Hypertension
Also known as high blood pressure
Hypertension is the medical or clinical term for high blood pressure. It is a very common medical problem and a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, and chronic kidney disease. In many instances, the very first sign of hypertension is a sudden heart attack or a stroke. This is why hypertension is often called "the silent killer."
Understanding Hypertension
Frequently Asked Questions
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Pulmonary hypertension is a serious condition that causes high blood pressure within the blood vessels that carry blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs (where it picks up oxygen). As a result, patients have problems breathing and feel weak and fatigued.
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Primary (essential) hypertension has no known cause; although, there are factors, like older age and having a family history, that increase a person's risk for developing it. Secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as sleep apnea, obesity, diabetes, or kidney disease.
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Essential hypertension, also called primary hypertension, is a common medical condition that does not usually cause symptoms but puts a person at risk for a heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Unlike secondary hypertension, which is caused by an underlying medical condition, essential hypertension has no known cause.
Learn More Causes and Risk Factors of Hypertension -
Hypertension does not generally cause symptoms, including headaches. That said, some people may notice a change in or worsening of their headaches when their blood pressure is higher than usual. In rare instances, a headache may be indicative of a hypertensive crisis—this is a medical emergency and occurs when a patient's blood pressure reaches 180/120 mm Hg or higher.
Causes and Risk Factors
Key Terms
- Arterial Hypertension
Arterial hypertension is another name for hypertension or high blood pressure. This interchangeable term is used most commonly by medical societies in Europe like the European Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Hypertension.
- Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries (a type of blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood). It is a key measurement for heart health. Normal blood pressure for adults is less than 120 over 80 (120/80) millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
- Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is a broad, umbrella term for disorders of the heart and blood vessels including coronary artery disease, stroke, hypertension, congenital heart disease, heart arrhythmias, heart valve problems, and heart failure.
- Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted. There are two main types of strokes—ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke occurs when an artery carrying blood to the brain becomes blocked from a clot. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery breaks open and bleeds in or around the brain.