Elevated blood pressure is also known as hypertension. It's a condition, not a disease, and is not deadly in and of itself. However, it is a symptom of deadly diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and others, and if you have elevated blood pressure, you should do what you can - with the advice and consent of your doctor - to lower it.
Other diseases that can be caused by elevated blood pressure are coronary artery disease and kidney failure. So as you can see elevated blood pressure is no joke.
In and of itself, elevated blood pressure is symptom less even though about one in three adult Americans suffers from the condition. That symptom less signature is partially why elevated blood pressure is such a problem: You don't know you have it unless you test for it. And then for some people, once it's diagnosed, they don't take it seriously because it doesn't cause immediate pain or suffering. It's a long-term thing, one that causes countless damage in terms of both lives and money.
So go to your doctor and get your blood pressure numbers, both your systolic and diastolic numbers. This will measure the pressure of your heart both during the beat and in between beats. If your numbers are high, you need to know.
Generally speaking, adults will want their systolic number at 120 or below, and their diastolic number at 80 or below. If you're in the 120-139 range or the 80-89 range, you're considered to be suffering from "prehypertension." If you're 140-159 or 90-99, you're in Stage One hypertension. If you're above those numbers you're in stage two hyeprtension and need to immdiately address your diet and exercise.
The best way to lower your blood pressure is to lead an active lifestyle and to watch your sodium intake. Exercise, as it is with almost every other malady common to the typical american adult, is really the main factor. Get outside for half an hour a day three or four times a week and go for a walk. Use the local YMCA for swimming, or get yourself an exercise bike. Even regular things like raking leaves or shoveling snow can help if you turn it into a cardio exercise.
Diet-wise, as I said, lowering your sodium should be your main goal. The best way to do this is to cut down the amount of processed foods you eat. Almost all processed foods have an overabundance of salt and sodium, and cutting these out of your diet will be a big step forward for your overall health.