AOL: Do You Know Your Hypertension Stage? It Could Save Your Life Hypertension is a very common condition, affecting about half of all adults in the U.S. But it doesn’t always have symptoms, so about one in three people don’t know they have it.

Understanding the Context

Hypertension develops ... Primary hypertension, also called essential hypertension For most adults, there's no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure is called primary hypertension or essential hypertension. It tends to develop gradually over many years.

Key Insights

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can quietly damage the body for years before symptoms appear. Without treatment, high blood pressure can lead to disability, a poor quality of life, or even a deadly heart attack or stroke. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). In general, hypertension is a blood pressure reading of 130/80 mm Hg or higher. Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.

Final Thoughts

In one form of pulmonary hypertension, called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), blood vessels in the lungs are narrowed, blocked or destroyed. The damage makes it hard for blood to move through the lungs. Blood pressure in the lung arteries goes up. The heart ... High blood also is called hypertension. For those who have hypertension, regular physical activity can bring blood pressure down to safer levels.

Some examples of aerobic exercise that can help lower blood pressure include walking, jogging, cycling, swimming and dancing. Another helpful type of exercise is high-intensity interval training. High blood pressure is called hypertension. This blood pressure chart can help you figure out if your blood pressure is at a healthy level.