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Hypertension
Hypertension (pronounced: hi-per-TEN-shun), also known as high blood pressure, is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.
Etymology
The term "hypertension" is derived from two Greek words: "hyper" meaning high and "tension" meaning pressure.
Definition
Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg, or a diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg. The systolic blood pressure represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries, while the diastolic blood pressure represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes after the contraction.
Related Terms
- Blood pressure: The force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.
- Systolic pressure: The top number in a blood pressure reading; it indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats.
- Diastolic pressure: The bottom number in a blood pressure reading; it indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.
- Arteries: The blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues.
See Also
- Hypotension: A condition in which blood pressure is lower than normal.
- Prehypertension: A condition in which blood pressure is slightly higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as hypertension.
References
- Oxford University Press. (Year). Title of the Book. City, State: Publisher.
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