Just to chime in on the high BP/pregnancy connection: with a pregnancy the dangers of toxemia or pre-eclamsia are associated with high BP; I have a younger brother with cerebral palsy to demonstrate it. In our case, its familial; maternal grandfather and uncle had cerebral hemhorrages and died in their mid-40's; both brothers, both underwieight and active, had high BP by 20; I made it to my 30's before starting meds...which work fine and don't have discernable side-effects. Just want to echo everyone else; It's nothing to mess with! Does significant cardiovascular damage over time that doctors often don't pick up until you're already in trouble as well...