Know Your High Blood Pressure and Stroke Risk

Left uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to atherosclerosis, which can lead to stroke, which can cause severe disability and even death.

By Lynn Yoffee

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

 

If you have hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, your chance of having a stroke goes way up. Almost 800,000 Americans have strokes every year and 150,000 will die as a result — it’s a leading cause of death and of disability in the United States. Here’s what you need to know about high blood pressure and stroke to protect yourself.

What Is a Stroke?