Research Guides: High Blood Pressure: General

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure Toolkit | American Heart Association
Provides a video on how to monitor your blood pressure at home as well as fact sheets on high blood pressure for patients and health care professionals.
Common High Blood Pressure Myths | American Heart Association
This page from the AHA breaks down the misconceptions of high blood pressure as it relates to salt intake and family history, among other things.
Get Your Blood Pressure Checked - MyHealthfinder | health.gov
MyHealthfinder encourages getting your blood pressure checked regularly. This page goes over the basics of high blood pressure, including how high blood pressure can affect pregnancy.
Health Threats from High Blood Pressure | American Heart Association
On this page, the AHA lists health complications that may arise from having high blood pressure. High blood pressure may cause stroke, heart failure, vision loss, and kidney disease, among other things.
High Blood Pressure - Best Way To Lower Blood Pressure | familydoctor.org
Defines primary and secondary high blood pressure, and goes over the causes of high blood pressure and the methods for preventing it.
High Blood Pressure - What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) | NHLBI, NIH
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines high blood pressure and uses a chart to break down the different levels of high blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus provides a summary of high blood pressure (HBP): the different types, diagnosing HBP, treatments for HBP, and related issues. This page provides several links to reliable resources on HBP.
Low Blood Pressure | Hypotension | MedlinePlus
High blood pressure is often a problem, but low blood pressure can sometimes be an issue as well. Here, MedlinePlus describes when low blood pressure is considered an issue, the symptoms, and related conditions.
Understanding Blood Pressure Readings | American Heart Association
Here the AHA breaks down what blood pressure numbers actually mean in terms of what is healthy and what is not (see chart). The definition of systolic and diastolic blood pressures is also provided.
Why High Blood Pressure is a "Silent Killer" | American Heart Association
High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it is not obvious when you have it. This page from the AHA provides information on recognizing the risks of high blood pressure and encourages high blood pressure awareness.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) - Merck Manual
The Merck Manual provides information on high blood pressure, including how it is controlled and the difference between hypertensive urgency and a hypertensive emergency.