Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

  • Hypertension
    Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.  One in three adults worldwide, according to the 2012 WHO World Healh Statistics report, has raised blood pressure – a condition that causes around half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease.  In low and middle income countries, it often does not get diagnosed and treated.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 31 July 2014
Image: Stock pic with a definition of hypertension with a red underline

The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. Blood pressure is the force with which the blood pushes against the walls of the arteries when it is pumped by the heart. Blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day. When blood pressure stays elevated over time, it is called high blood pressure.

Every blood pressure reading has two numbers. The number at the top (systolic) shows the force of the blood in the arteries as the heart beats. The number at the bottom (diastolic) shows the force of the blood in the arteries as the heart relaxes between beats. A reading of 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, then you have pre-hypertension. This means that you don't have high blood pressure now but are likely to develop it in the future.

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Heart and Cardio-vascular
Condition
Hypertension

Stories

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