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What
is Hypertension?
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The medical term for high blood pressure is "hypertension". Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day, but when the blood pressure stays elevated over time, it is then called "hypertension" (high blood pressure). Hypertension is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death among Americans. Hypertension also can results in other conditions, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. Hypertension affects about 50 million -- or 1 in 4 -- American adults. Some people are more likely to develop it than others. Also, many Americans tend to develop high blood pressure as they get older, but hypertension is NOT a part of healthy aging. About 60 percent of all Americans age 60 and older have high blood pressure. Others at high risk of developing hypertension, with the remaining being essential (or primary) hypertension. Secondary hypertension has an identifiable cause while essential hypertension has no known cause. There are many known conditions that can cause secondary hypertension. Some causes for secondary hypertension are:
"White-Coat" Hypertension: Some people experience high blood pressure only when they visit the doctor's office. This condition is called "white-coat hypertension". If your doctor suspects this, you may be asked to monitor your blood pressure at home or asked to wear a device called an ambulatory blood pressure monitor. This device is usually worn 24 hours and can take blood pressure measurements every 30 minutes. Adapted from: National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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