If you're not familiar with the term, you may have heard of "high blood pressure." This is not entirely accurate, however, because many people experience an occasional increase in blood pressure due to many factors such as stress, dietary changes, illness, and taking certain medications, while the true hypertension is a chronic disease. If you or someone you know has hypertension, it is essential that this condition be evaluated, treated and monitored by a qualified physician. When hypertension is left untreated, it can lead to many other serious conditions and, in the worst cases, even death. The average healthy adult's blood pressure is usually less than 120/80. In the presence of contributing factors, it is not uncommon to experience an occasional, temporary increase in blood pressure. This is usually no reason to worry, as your blood pressure will soon return to its normal state. If this does not happen, it is recommended to consult a doctor. In the absence of contributing factors, or if your blood pressure does not return and stabilize at a normal rate, prehypertension or stage one or stage two hypertension may be present. In this type of case, whether your blood pressure is slightly higher or significantly higher than the normal level of 120/80, the sooner you seek competent medical assistance, the more likely you are to get your blood pressure under control. This in turn will reduce the risk of more serious health complications. If you have high blood pressure, this means your heart has to work even harder than it should to do its job of pumping blood. If left untreated, it can lead to heart or kidney failure, permanent eye damage, stroke, and serious complications... middle of paper ...... you will probably be quite noticeable. The key is that the symptom(s) are outside of your normal range of experience and are not directly related to your normal activities. This goes without saying, but in the interest of your health, it may be a good idea to add that if you experience any of these symptoms, it is essential that you seek medical attention as quickly as possible. . Don't make the mistake of trying to self-diagnose or, even worse, ignore these symptoms and wait for them to go away. Protecting your health should be your primary concern. Whether you have symptoms of hypertension or not, evaluating this condition is a simple and painless procedure. It will only take a few minutes of your time and it's well worth what you'll gain in terms of peace of mind.!