Essential hypertension refers to high blood pressure with no identifiable cause.
Alternative NamesHypertension - essential
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsAs blood is pumped through your body, it exerts pressure on the walls of your arteries. The systolic blood pressure is the pressure against these walls when the heart contracts, and the diastolic blood pressure is the pressure against these walls when the heart relaxes. When you get a blood pressure reading, you are told the systolic pressure/diastolic pressure.
For example, normal blood pressure is below 120/80.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, occurs when the systolic pressure is consistently over 140 mm Hg, or the diastolic blood pressure is consistently over 90 mm Hg. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumped, by the actions of the heart, and by the size and condition of the arteries. Many factors affect blood pressure, including:
Prehypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89. If you have prehypertension, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure at some point. Therefore, your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down to normal ranges.
African Americans of both sexes and Caucasian males have a higher rate of significant hypertension. While essential hypertension has no correctable cause, some genetic factors have been identified. Blood vessels become somewhat stiffer as you grow older. For this reason, the rate of high blood pressure increases with age.
SymptomsUsually, high blood pressure has no symptoms at all. That is why it is often called the "silent killer." Millions of people have high blood pressure and many do not even know they have this serious condition.
Rarely, you may experience a mild headache when your blood pressure is elevated. If your headache is severe, or if you experience any of the symptoms below, you must be seen right away because these may be a sign of dangerously high blood pressure (called malignant hypertension) or a serious complication (like a heart attack).
Note: There are usually no symptoms.
Signs and testsBlood pressuremeasurements are repeated over time. Systolic blood pressure consistently over 140, or diastolic blood pressure consistently over 90, is considered hypertension. Your doctor will look for signs of complications to your heart, kidneys, eyes, and other organs in your body.
Multiple systolic blood pressure readings between 130 and 139 or diastolic blood pressure readings between 80 and 89 is called prehypertension. Your doctor will recommend and encourage lifestyle changes including weight loss, exercise, and nutritional changes.
Tests for suspected causes (called secondary hypertension) may be performed. Essential hypertension is diagnosed when NO causes can be found.
TreatmentYou should have your blood pressure regularly checked by your doctor. Your doctor will tell you how often you need it checked.
You may want to consider a home blood pressure monitor as well. Bring the readings to your doctor when you go for your visits.
Lifestyle changes can help bring your blood pressure down. This includes regular exercise, including weight loss if you are overweight. You should follow a low fat diet rich in fish, chicken, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and eat lower amounts of red meat and salt.
Do not smoke. If you have Diabetes, make sure you keep your blood sugars under control.
Many different medicines are used to control blood pressure. Some of them are listed below.
Most people need two or more medications to control blood pressure.
Expectations (prognosis)Essential hypertension is controllable with proper treatment. It requires lifelong monitoring, and treatment may require periodic adjustments.
ComplicationsUntreated hypertension can lead to:
Even if you have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to have your blood pressure checked at annual exams, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure in your family.
If you have high blood pressure, you will have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.
In between appointments, if you have any of the following symptoms call your health care provider right away:
Prevention is based upon lifestyle changes that include:
US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves New Drug Treatment for High Blood Pressure. Rockville, MD: National Press Office; March 6, 2007. Release P07-38.
Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). Rockville, Md. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, US Department of Health and Human Services; August 2004. National Institutes of Health Publication No. 04-5230.
Whelton PK, He J, Appel LJ, et al. Primary prevention of hypertension: Clinical and public health advisory from The National High Blood Pressure Education Program. JAMA.2002;288(15):1882-8.
Hypertension without a known cause is called primary or essential hypertension.
Essential Hypertension
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Essential hypertension means there is no known causes. Secondary hypertension means there is some known cause of your elevated pressure. Treatment would gear toward whatever that cause. However, the majority of hypertension is essential.
Essential hypertension is high blood pressure without a clear underlying cause, while secondary hypertension is high blood pressure that is due to a specific medical condition, such as kidney disease or hormonal disorders. Essential hypertension is more common and typically develops gradually over time, whereas secondary hypertension can develop suddenly and may require treatment of the underlying cause.
Essential hypertension is presence of sustained hypertension (>140/90) mm hg without any presence of disease.
The code for hypertension is I10
Per Lund-Johansen has written: 'Hemodynamics in early essential hypertension' -- subject(s): Essential hypertension, Hemodynamics
Soda, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, and medications are some causes of high blood pressure. Two forms of high blood pressure have been described: essential (or primary) hypertension and secondary hypertension. Essential hypertension is a far more common condition and accounts for 95% of hypertension. The cause of essential hypertension is multifactorial, that is, there are several factors whose combined effects produce hypertension secondary hypertension, which accounts for 5% of hypertension, the high blood pressure is secondary to (caused by) a specific abnormality in one of the organs or systems of the body Essential hypertension affects approximately 72 million Americans, yet its basic causes or underlying defects are not always known.
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