Is high blood pressure a symptom of heart disease?

Condition analysis:
A. High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is usually referred to as a risk factor for heart disease. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to these serious conditions:
-- Hardening and thickening of arteries
-- Increased risk of heart attack due to blocked arteries
-- Weakening and enlarging of the heart - possibly leading to congestive heart failure
-- Increased risk of stroke - pressure is too great for weakened blood vessels
-- Strain on kidneys - leading to damage to, or failure of, your kidneys

This is why your doctor will want to control your blood pressure and get it to a healthy range (120/80 or less) and why, if you have high blood pressure, your doctor will want to watch your heart health. 

Instructions:
Olive oil. The American Heart Association and the American Dietetic Association recommend getting most of your fat from monounsaturated sources. Olive oil is a prime candidate. Try using it instead of other vegetable oils when sautéing your veggies.

Peanut butter. Eat 2 tablespoons of this comforting food and you can get 1/3 of your daily intake of vitamin E. Because vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin (other antioxidant vitamins are water soluble), it is found more abundantly in fattier foods like vegetable oils and nuts. If you're watching your weight, don't go overboard on the peanut butter.

Pecans. These tasty nuts are full of magnesium, another heart-friendly nutrient. One ounce of pecans drizzled over a spinach salad can give you 1/3 of your recommended daily allowance of this vital mineral.