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Hypertension


 

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a medical condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is chronically elevated. While it is formally called arterial hypertension, the word "hypertension" without a qualifier usually refers to arterial hypertension.

Etiology

Essential hypertension

  • Age. Over time, the number of collagen fibres in artery and arteriole walls increases, making blood vessels stiffer. With the reduced elasticity comes a smaller cross-sectional area in systole, and so a raised mean arterial blood pressure.
  • High salt intake
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Tobacco smoking
  • Alcohol abuse
  • High levels of saturated fat in the diet
  • Obesity. In obese subjects, losing a pound in weight generally reduces blood pressure by 1mmHg.
  • Stress
  • Low birth-weight
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Various genetic causes

Inessential hypertension