On May 17th, we celebrate World Hypertension Day, a day dedicated to highlighting the importance of monitoring blood pressure and bringing global awareness to the 1 billion people living with high blood pressure worldwide. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is defined as a systolic blood pressure consistently above 120mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure consistently above 80 mm Hg. Hypertension is the #1 risk factor for heart disease, stroke, renal complications, and premature death. Usually, high blood pressure alone does not cause any symptoms. Fortunately, hypertension can be prevented and managed, by checking your blood pressure regularly, and through treatment.