Chest Heart & Stroke

If your blood pressure is consistently higher than it should be it is called high blood pressure (or hypertension). High blood pressure is not a disease in itself. However, it can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and strokes. Over the years high blood pressure slowly damages the blood vessels by making them narrower and more rigid. This means your heart has to work harder to push the blood through your blood vessels and the overall blood pressure rises.