Home > Hypertension > Blood Pressure Basics Get the Flash Player to see this player. Rate: (Click the stars to rate) Published on Apr 20, 2009 by CCannon, Views: 7648 Blood pressure: Dr Christopher Cannon, a cardiologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, reviews high blood pressure. Hypertension puts strain on the heart and causes thickening of the heart muslce, it can also affect the blood vessels in the brain, and is a risk factor for stroke, and can cause kidney disease. Treatment consists of exercise, low salt diet and medications.