You have hypertension if your blood pressure has been measured above 140/90 mmHg more than three times. The low blood pressure value, or diastolic blood pressure, is the most important value, and increased diastolic blood pressure is the factor most closely associated with stroke. But an increased systolic blood pressure (over 160) is also a risk factor that needs to be treated. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor will tell you to take the appropriate medication. You must follow your doctor’s orders exactly and be closely monitored by him. Medications fail to treat high blood pressure for one simple reason: people stop taking their antihypertensive medications.