Lowdown on high blood pressure

WHENEVER the heart pumps, it generates a pressure in the arteries. The pressure rises to a peak, which is recorded as the upper blood pressure (BP) reading or systolic BP (SBP) and then falls to a nadir, which is recorded as the lower BP reading or diastolic BP (DBP), after which the pressure in the arteries rises again with the next pumping action of the heart.

The BP is considered to be abnormal or a state of high BP (hypertension) if the constant elevation of the BP beyond a certain level can result in damage to vital organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys.

When should blood pressure be treated?

In 2014, the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) released their guidelines for the management …