Hypertension is the clinical term for what we refer to as high blood pressure. It is a condition in which the force a person’s blood exerts on the walls of his/her body’s arteries have persistently risen above the capability of the arteries.

A normal blood pressure is one with a systolic pressure {The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats}of 130mm Hg and a diastolic pressure{The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats} of 80mm Hg, Anything higher than this is termed H.B.P and severe when the blood pressure reaches 180/120. It is often referred to as a silent killer because more often than not it has no visible symptoms which makes it impossible to detect as well as profer solutions until it escalates into severe conditions such as stroke and heart disease.

Fortunately, when high blood pressure has been detected, you can work with your doctor to control it. When you go on routine check at the hospital,

You’ll likely have your blood pressure taken as part of a routine doctor’s appointment.

Ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading at least every two years starting at age 18. If you’re age 40 or older, or you’re 18 to 39 with a high risk of high blood pressure, ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading every year.

Blood pressure generally should be checked in both arms to determine if there’s a difference. It’s important to use an appropriate-sized arm cuff.

Your doctor will likely recommend more-frequent readings if you’ve already been diagnosed with high blood pressure or have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Children age 3 and older will usually have blood pressure measured as a part of their yearly checkups.

If you don’t regularly see your doctor, you may be able to get a free blood pressure screening at a health resource fair or other locations in your community. You can also find machines in some stores that will measure your blood pressure for free.

Public blood pressure machines, such as those found in pharmacies, may provide helpful information about your blood pressure, but they may have some limitations. The accuracy of these machines depends on several factors, such as a correct cuff size and proper use of the machines. Ask your doctor for advice on using public blood pressure machines.