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Print: What is high blood pressure?
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Normal arteries are smooth and flexible, and blood flows easily through them. As the blood moves through your arteries, it puts pressure on the artery walls. This is your blood pressure. High blood pressure (also called hypertension) occurs when your blood moves through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal.
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Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff
Reviewed/Updated: 11/10
Created: 01/96
