Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic condition that can have a negative impact on health. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to adverse, life-threatening events like heart attack and stroke. Tracking blood pressure is an important and easy way to lower your chances of these adverse events, and can be measured using a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff). The cuff records a top number, representing the pressure of blood being pumped out of the heart (systolic), and a bottom number, the pressure while the heart relaxes after contraction (diastolic). Hypertension is formally diagnosed when blood pressure readings exceed 130/80 mmHg in multiple readings and different settings. High blood pressure can be challenging to manage but begins with lifestyle modifications like a healthy diet, regular exercise, and reduced stress. Medications like diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers can also be used when lifestyle measures are not sufficiently controlling blood pressure.