Ask Cleveland Clinic’s Expert: What Is High Blood Pressure?

Chronic high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is sometimes called “the silent killer” because of the damage it can do within the body — without showing any external signs at all. Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Luke Laffin, MD, breaks down what you need to know about hypertension, including how to tell if you have it, how to manage it and what it can do if left untreated. The information in this video was accurate as of and is for information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority or your healthcare practitioner for advice. Resources: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Symptoms, Causes and Diet: Hypertension: Strategies to Control It: High Blood Pressure: Talking to Your Medical: High Blood Pressure? What To Do When Your Medication Isn’t Enough: Pulmonary Hypertension: How (and Why) to Embark on a Lower-Salt Lifestyle: