High blood pressure

High blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a leading cause of kidney disease.

Overview

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels as your heart pumps blood around your body. Most people with high blood pressure do not have any symptoms. For this reason, it is often called a “silent killer.” The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured.
Salt

Causes

The exact causes of high blood pressure are unknown. However, smoking, being overweight, or having too much salt in your diet may play a role.
Treatment

Treatment

There is no cure for high blood pressure. But treatment and healthy lifestyle changes can lower blood pressure and reduce health risks associated with high blood pressure.
children

Children

High blood pressure is common in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
families

Families

Family meal planning, exercising, and supporting your loved one with high blood pressure.