What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood flowing against artery walls.

A blood pressure reading involves two numbers. The first, the systolic, measures pressure on your arteries when your heart is actively pumping. The second, the diastolic, measures the pressure on your arteries when the heart is at rest.
A normal blood pressure reading would be below 120/80. A person with a reading of 140/90 or higher is considered prehypertensive, which means that they are at greater risk of developing hypertension.
In the past, doctors have been more concerned about the second (diastolic) number. Now, however, rising systolic pressure, especially in adults over 50, is considered to be more important. Systolic pressure should be below 140.

Primary and Secondary Hypertension
When the specific cause of your high blood pressure is unknown, the diagnosis is primary or essential hypertension. This is the most common type of hypertension and occurs in about 90 percent of patients. Risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, obesity, stress, diabetes and a high-cholesterol diet increase the chances of developing hypertension.
When hypertension results from a medical condition such as pregnancy or kidney disease it is considered secondary hypertension.

The Importance of Regular Checkups
Hypertension is called the “silent killer” because there are often no symptoms. If left untreated, hypertension can cause damage to various parts of the body. This damage can result in heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and loss of vision. Of 60 million Americans, half of them have high blood pressure and don’t even know it. Have your blood pressure checked at least once a year by your doctor. If you have prehypertension, you need to make lifestyle adjustments to prevent developing hypertension. You need to maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, eat a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and salt, and drink alcohol only in moderation.
If you have high blood pressure, you should also make these lifestyle changes to help control your blood pressure. You also need to take your medication as prescribed by your doctor.