Hypertension is a cause of high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels), which carry the blood throughout the body. Hypertension is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood out to the body and contributes to the hardening of the arteries, oratherosclerosis, stroke, kidney disease, and the development of heart failure. The exact causes of high blood pressure are not known, but several factors and conditions may play a role in its development, including: Smoking; Being overweight or obese; Lack of physical activity; Too much salt in the diet; Too much alcohol consumption (more than 1 to 2 drinks per day); Stress; Older age; Genetics; Family history of high blood pressure; Chronic kidney disease; Adrenal and thyroid disorders; Sleep apnea.