Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted by blood on the walls of arteries as it is pumped by the heart. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and expressed as a ratio of systolic over diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure occurs when the heart contracts while diastolic pressure is when the heart relaxes between beats. Blood pressure is affected by factors like age, obesity, stress, sleep, family history, salt intake, and alcohol consumption. Untreated high blood pressure or hypertension can significantly increase the risks of stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, and vision problems.