Hypertension definition

What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure, (also referred to as hypertension, is when your blood pressure, the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels, is consistently too high. If you have high blood pressure, you are not alone. • Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure. (Many don’t even know they have it.) • The best way to know if you have high blood pressure it is to Know your numbers. Learn about Blood Pressure Chart BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORY SYSTOLIC mm Hg (upper number) and/or DIASTOLIC mm Hg (lower number) NORMAL LESS THAN 120 and LESS THAN 80 ELEVATED 120 – 129 and LESS THAN 80 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION) STAGE 1 130 – 139 or 80 – 89 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION) STAGE 2 140 OR HIGHER or 90 OR HIGHER HIGHER THAN 180 and/or HIGHER THAN 120 High blood pressure is a 'silent killer.' • Most of the time there are no obvious • Certain physical traits and lifestyle choices can put you at a • When left untreated, the damage that high blood pressure does to your circulatory system is a significant contributing factor to Preventing and managing high blood pressure • This is one time that the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is particularly apt. It’s best to avoid high blood pressure altogether. • With

Hypertensive heart disease can happen if you have unmanaged high blood pressure for a long time. The added strain on your heart could lead to heart failure or other health problems. This is why it’s important to know if you have high blood pressure and to treat it if you do. Lifestyle changes can make your heart healthier, too. Overview What is hypertensive heart disease? Hypertensive heart disease is a long-term condition that develops over many years in people who have high blood pressure. It’s a group of medical problems ― like heart failure and conduction Chronic high blood pressure (higher than Chronic high blood pressure puts a strain on your heart and makes it harder for it to pump your blood. Your heart muscle can get thick and weak, possibly leading to heart failure. The walls of your blood vessels can also thicken because of high blood pressure, and this becomes more dangerous when cholesterol collects inside the blood vessels. Then your heart attack and stroke risks go up. High blood pressure makes men twice as likely and women three times more likely to get heart failure. However, having your high blood pressure well managed can greatly reduce your risk of heart failure. People who have hypertensive heart disease with heart failure have a higher risk for: • Decompensated heart failure. • • Sudden cardiac death. What are the types of hypertensive heart disease? High blood pressure makes it more difficult for your heart to push blood through your blood vessels. W...

You might have thought that hypertension was what a movie audience feels near the climax of a thriller, but you would have been wrong. High blood pressure—that is high pressure against the walls of your veins and arteries caused by blood flow—often occurs when the arteries or veins become blocked or narrowed, making the heart work harder to pump blood. But many cases seem to be the result of smoking or taking in too much salt, and many are genetically caused. Hypertension is serious, since it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Though it often produces no warning symptoms, your blood pressure can be checked quickly and easily by a nurse. If it's high, it can usually be controlled by stopping smoking, losing weight, lowering your salt intake, and exercising—and if all else fails, by medication. Recent Examples on the Web New mothers with medical conditions like hypertension should be seen even sooner, Dr. Auguste said. — Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 28 May 2023 Throughout her longstanding 60-year career, the Queen of Rock was often vocal about her health struggles, which date back to 1978 when she was diagnosed with hypertension. — Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 24 May 2023 Older Adults and Lowering Blood Pressure Teixeira stressed that while older people had fewer blood pressure benefits from strength training than younger people in the study, this form of exercise is still helpful for older adults looking to manage hypertension. — Brian Mastroianni, Health, 8 May 2023...

Highlights • High blood pressure is now defined as readings of 130 mm Hg and higher for the systolic blood pressure measurement, or readings of 80 and higher for the diastolic measurement. That is a change from the old definition of 140/90 and higher, reflecting complications that can occur at those lower numbers. • In the first update to comprehensive U.S. guidelines on blood pressure detection and treatment since 2003, the category of prehypertension is eliminated. • While about 14 percent more people will be diagnosed with high blood pressure and counseled about lifestyle changes, there will only be a small increase in those who will be prescribed medication. • By lowering the definition of high blood pressure, the guidelines recommend earlier intervention to prevent further increases in blood pressure and the complications of hypertension. Embargoed until 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 ANAHEIM, California, Nov. 13, 2017 — High blood pressure should be treated earlier with lifestyle changes and in some patients with medication – at 130/80 mm Hg rather than 140/90 – according to the first comprehensive new high blood pressure guidelines in more than a decade. The guidelines are being published by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for detection, prevention, management and treatment of high blood pressure. The guidelines were presented today at the Association’s 2017 Scientific Sessions conference in Anahe...

Overview What is primary hypertension? Primary (essential) hypertension is high blood pressure that is multi-factorial and doesn’t have one distinct cause. It’s also known as idiopathic or essential hypertension. Above-normal blood pressure is typically anything over 120/80 mmHg. This means that the pressure inside your arteries is higher than it should be. Why should I be concerned about essential hypertension? Essential • • • • • • Malignant hypertension. • • Symptoms and Causes What causes essential primary hypertension? Unhealthy habits and certain circumstances put you at risk for essential primary hypertension. These include: • Being an older adult (age 65 and up). • • A diet that’s high in salt. • Drinking too much coffee and other forms of • Family history of high blood pressure. • • • Sedentary lifestyle with limited physical activity. • Sleep issues, such as How is primary hypertension different from other forms of hypertension? Other types of hypertension have one distinct cause. These include a medical condition or side effects of medications. When there is a direct cause, it’s known as Conditions that can cause secondary hypertension include: • • Kidney disease. • • Pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. • Pregnancy ( • • Medications such as NSAIDs. What are the symptoms of essential hypertension (now known as primary hypertension)? In the early stages, primary hypertension has no symptoms. Over time, blood vessel damage can start affecting your health. You may ex...

Hypertension or high blood pressure often produces no symptoms, but it can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious health conditions. Medication and lifestyle choices can help manage hypertension. Read on to learn why a person’s blood pressure can increase and what the symptoms are. This article also explains how a person can monitor their blood pressure and discusses ways to keep it within a typical range. Finally, we answer some common questions about the condition. Share on Pinterest Certain conditions, medications, and health factors can increase this pressure. Hypertension is blood pressure that is consistently higher than The systolic reading of 130 mm Hg refers to the pressure as the heart pumps blood around the body. The diastolic reading of 80 mm Hg refers to the pressure as the heart relaxes and refills with blood. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (AHA) define blood pressure ranges as: A person with hypertension may not notice any symptoms. Without detection, hypertension can damage the heart, blood vessels, and other organs, such as the kidneys. It is vital to check blood pressure regularly. In rare and severe cases, high blood pressure can cause: • sweating • • sleeping problems • blushing However, most people with hypertension will experience no symptoms at all. If high blood pressure becomes a Complications Long-term hypertension can cause complications through This narrowing worsens hypertension beca...