High cholesterol doesn't cause high blood pressure, but combined they can greatly increase your risk of developing heart disease.
While normal blood pressure is defined as 120 over 80 (120/80), it fluctuates, even when blood pressure measurements are taken one after another. Doctors usually take your blood pressure many times, with you sitting, lying down, or standing and sometimes over many visits before they will diagnose you with high blood pressure.
Your heart has the important task of pumping blood through your blood vessels (arteries) to bring oxygen to the rest of your body, so you need to take good care of it. Blood pressure refers to the amount of work it takes to push blood against the walls of your arteries. When your blood pressure is high, it means your heart is working much harder to keep up its task and, over time, it can harden or damage your blood vessels, leading to heart complications such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart or kidney failure, or heart attack.
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is a problem that affects one in three Americans. It is often referred to as the "silent killer" because it is not usually associated with any symptoms and can go undetected. Untreated high blood pressure over many years can lead to a failing heart and kidneys. It's a simple, painless procedure to check your blood pressure and know where you stand.
Some people have a higher risk than others of developing high blood pressure, but you can lower your risk by making lifestyle changes which will lower your blood pressure, then getting your blood pressure taken regularly to monitor your condition. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend medications to lower your blood pressure.