High blood pressure affects all ages, with about half of all American adults at risk for major health problems because of high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). 

What Is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against artery walls. When that force is too high, it causes the heart and vessels to work harder and can damage them.

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers. Systolic pressure (the top number on the reading) is the pressure in your vessels when your heart beats (or contracts). Diastolic pressure (the bottom number on the reading) is the pressure in your vessels when your heart is between beats (or relaxes). The measuring unit is millimeters of mercury, or mmHg.

What Is the Threshold for Hypertension?

In 2020, the AHA, the American College of Cardiology and several other leading medical groups issued new guidelines that lowered the threshold for a diagnosis of hypertension, or high blood pressure.

  • Blood pressure of 130/80 or above is high.
  • Blood pressure between 120/80 and 129/80 is elevated.

The updated guidelines help physicians and patients recognize and treat hypertension sooner.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Risks

The American Heart Association refers to high blood pressure as the “silent killer.” This is because you can’t feel when your blood pressure is high, and most of the time, you won’t show any symptoms. Hypertension can cause the arteries to become damaged, more easily clogged or susceptible to rupture. Two leading causes of death associated with hypertension are heart disease and stroke. Hypertension can also lead to heart failure. Hypertension is the second leading preventable cause of death, after smoking.

Monitoring Your Blood Pressure

Healthy individuals should check their blood pressure at least once a year. You can record your own blood pressure at most retail pharmacies with an electronic blood pressure monitor. Per the guidelines, it is important to take readings on two different occasions to diagnose hypertension. Blood pressure is also monitored by a nurse or your primary care provider.

Most monitoring and treatment will be done through your primary care doctor or clinician, such as during your annual wellness visit. 

Digital Care Monitoring

Digital Care Monitoring is a no-cost option offered by the Froedtert & MCW health network to patients who would benefit from the program. Using easy-to-understand technology, it helps you monitor your blood pressure and stay connected with us between your regular appointments.

Benefits of Digital Care Monitoring

Keeping track of your blood pressure readings is an important step in managing your hypertension and can help you avoid potentially dangerous complications. The program is confidential and uses technology you are familiar with, such as phone calls or text messages.

  • When you enroll, we will call or send you a text message a few times a week to collect your blood pressure readings. If your numbers are consistently outside of normal range, the Digital Care Monitoring team will be alerted so we can arrange the care you need. Please be aware that regular text messages are not a secure form of communication. By enrolling and choosing to receive information about your condition via text, you are accepting the risk that some protected health information could be acquired by someone other than you.

    Please note: Digital Care Monitoring should not be used for urgent matters. If you have an urgent or life-threatening emergency, call 911.

  • Your readings will be reviewed by our Digital Care Monitoring team and shared with your primary care physician if additional attention if needed. The Digital Care Monitoring team includes qualified health care professionals who will determine when to share your information with your primary care physician.

  • Contact your primary care physician to see if you would be a good candidate for Digital Care Monitoring for blood pressure.

Blood pressure cuffs can be purchased in Froedtert Pharmacy locations. Insurance coverage for these monitors varies by patient.

How to Prevent High Blood Pressure

Talk to your doctor about ways to keep your blood pressure in check. Lifestyle changes include:

  • A low-sodium diet
  • Cutting back on alcohol
  • Increasing exercise
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
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Our Cardiovascular Program continues to receive recognition as one of the top programs nationally. We are honored to provide high-quality, effective care for even the most high-risk patients.

  • The Froedtert & MCW health network has built a reputation for clinical excellence and our research draws patients from around the world. Our Heart & Vascular program recognitions include:

    • Premier recognized Froedtert Hospital in 2025 as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® according to its independent quality analysis based on a balanced scorecard. The hospitals recognized in the top 50 operated at lower cost and had better outcomes, recording significantly higher inpatient survival rates, fewer patients with complications, lower readmission rates and up to nearly $7,000 less in total costs per patient case. Froedtert Hospital was ranked in the category of top teaching hospitals with a cardiovascular residency program. No other hospital in Wisconsin was recognized with this national distinction.
    • The International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) recognizes our Cardio-Oncology Program as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence in 2025. ICOS certification is awarded to institutions and practices that demonstrate superior expertise in the care of patients who have heart disease, are at high risk or experience heart complications with cancer treatment. The ICOS awards bronze, silver and gold certification. Of the two ICOS-certified programs in Wisconsin, we are the only one that meets the stringent requirements needed to be recognized as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence.
    • Healthgrades recognized Froedtert Hospital in its 2024 Specialty Excellence Awards, including one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery, one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention, as well as other specialty achievements in various areas.
    • Becker’s Hospital Review recognized Froedtert Hospital within its 2024 list of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Heart Programs. Hospitals featured on this list are renowned for delivering superior heart and vascular care that results in high-quality outcomes. As part of a health network that includes eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center, our heart and vascular specialists treat a high volume of patients with a wide variety of heart diseases.
    • Froedtert Hospital is recognized as a Surgical Quality Partner and Verified Comprehensive Inpatient Vascular Center by the American College of Surgeons Vascular Verification Program. As the first hospital in Wisconsin to receive this designation, this recognition, shows our commitment to our patients in delivering the highest standards in surgical care. Learn more about this recognition.
    • The Society for Vascular Surgery's Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI) recognized Froedert Hospital as a Carotid Care Quality Champion by the SVS VQI‘s clinical registry recognition program in 2024. The VQI recognizes select centers across the country as Carotid Care Quality Champions for their dedication to improving the safety and effectiveness of vascular care through participation and engagement in VQI’s carotid artery stenting and/or carotid endarterectomy registries.
    • The American Heart Association recognized Froedtert Hospital with the following awards that show our commitment to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks.
      • Get With the Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus Award
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
      • Get With the Guidelines® AFib Gold Award
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Resuscitation Target CPR; Resuscitation Gold — Audit; Resuscitation Target Survival
    • Froedtert Hospital earned the American Heart Association (AHA) Commitment to Quality award, a new AHA recognition, in 2025. The award recognizes adherence to the latest, research-based clinical guidelines to support better outcomes for patients.
    • In addition, the hospital was recognized on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart Failure(SM) Honor Roll and received the AHA’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award.

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