As you get older, higher blood pressure is normal. Blood pressure tends to rise with age. As the arteries become stiff, the heart is forced to pump harder. As the cycle continues, blood pound against the artery walls damages them over time.
The heart muscles become less effective and pumps harder to meet the body’s need for blood. This further damages the arteries and allows fat into the artery walls. The high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.