High blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol (hypercholesteremia) are serious, independent health issues but they can both increase the risk of cardiovascular complications, such as heart disease and stroke.

High cholesterol affects almost half of Canadians aged 40 to 59. It has no signs or symptoms, so the only way to know if you have it is to get your cholesterol levels checked through a blood test.
When you have hypertension (high blood pressure), it means the pressure against the blood vessel walls in your body is consistently too high. Often, there are no signs or symptoms, which is why it’s important to see your family doctor or health care provider for regular check-ups.