Hypertension-FAQ.com

Hypertension refers to the medical condition of having a chronically elevated blood pressure. There are two types of hypertension – primary (essential) and secondary.

In primary hypertension, the patient’s condition cannot be accounted for any medical reason. However, some factors may contribute to this condition, such as obesity, genetics, salt sensitivity, insulin resistance, and age. On the other hand, in secondary hypertension, the person’s elevated blood pressure is caused by a medical condition such as kidney disease or the presence of tumors. Hypertension that occurs very often increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and aneurysm. It can also cause renal failure.

Hypertension that results in just a moderate increase in blood pressure may already lead to early death. A person who experiences really high blood pressure that is 50% more than the average may face the possibility of early death if the condition is not promptly and effectively treated.

The symptoms of hypertension are usually found when one undergoes a routine medical checkup. Measuring the blood pressure is the only method used to find out if you have hypertension, but this condition also presents a few common symptoms like headache, feeling of tiredness, dizziness, and having a blurred vision.

Hypertension can occur in pregnant women. As a matter of fact, about 10% of women experience hypertension during pregnancy. This occurrence may be indicative of pregnancy complications, particularly pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome. Pregnant women with hypertension should consult their doctors immediately.

Hypertension has also been observed in children and adolescents. A lot of times, this condition is caused by obesity. Many children today suffer from obesity, and they face the risk of having ventricular hypertrophy.

Childhood hypertension is usually caused by another medical condition. The most common cause of hypertension in children is renal parenchymal disease, which accounts for 60 to 70% of known cases.