High blood pressure: who is at risk and why UK children are getting it

Key Highlights

• It arises when blood pressure in the arteries, the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the brain and around the body, is consistently above a healthy level.
• It is often called a silent killer because it causes damage throughout the body without producing obvious symptoms. How is it diagnosed?Blood pressure is usually measured with a blood pressure monitor, which wraps an inflatable cuff around the arm.
• The measurement records two numbers, in units of mm Hg (mercury), and displays them as the higher number over the lower.
• The higher number, the systolic pressure, is the pressure when the heart contracts to push blood around the body.
• The lower number, the diastolic pressure, is when the heart relaxes between beats. Countries have different thresholds for diagnosing high blood pressure.