Blood pressure is the force that is produced in the heart that pushes blood through the capillaries and arteries. This is the result of two defined forces with the first pressure being that of the blood pumping out of the heart and the other pressure is the heart at rest that is normally between heartbeats. High blood pressure is detected by taking several readings over a period of time. If a single reading is done it does not indicate that you have high blood pressure.
High blood pressure can lead to blood vessels getting damaged resulting in kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and heart disease if not treated at the right time. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor will advise you to make changes to your lifestyle. Some of these changes include limiting the intake of sodium, reducing the intake of alcohol, quitting smoking or reducing it, losing weight among others.