High blood pressure affects 25 percent of the world’s population. Far from being an isolated problem, experts consider it a risk factor for many diseases. Over time, high blood pressure can lead to conditions including hardening of your arteries (atherosclerosis), stroke, kidney disease, and heart failure.

Your heart may be the hardest-working organ in your body. It is primarily a muscle that pumps blood to organs and tissues that require nutrients and oxygen.

Your heart pumps that blood via blood vessels, which distribute it throughout your body. You or your doctor can determine how efficiently your heart pumps or distributes that blood by measuring your blood pressure.

A measurement called millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) is used to measure pressure. So if your healthcare professional gets a reading of “120/ 80 mm Hg,” the 120 is your systolic blood pressure; the 80 is your diastolic blood pressure.

Both numbers are important. However, many doctors prioritize systolic blood pressure, which can be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease once you hit 50. Systolic blood pressure increases with age due to stiffening arteries, plaque build-up, and an increased risk for cardiac and vascular disease.

Cardiac or heart muscle is the middle layer of muscle tissue that contracts quickly and repeatedly, distributing blood throughout your body. (1) The heart is a vitally crucial muscle that keeps you alive. Needless to say, when your heart muscle stops working, your body follows. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, means blood doesn’t flow optimally through stiff arteries. Plaque buildup can eventually lead to heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for American women and men.(2)(3)

Talk with your healthcare professional about incorporating these and other strategies to help improve and maintain your cardiovascular performance.