|
|
High blood pressure (essential hypertension).(Adult Health Advisor)(Disease/Disorder overview)
- Article from:
- Clinical Reference Systems
- Article date:
- February 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
What is essential hypertension?
Blood pressure is the force of blood against artery walls as the heart pumps blood through the body. Hypertension is the term for blood pressure that keeps being higher than normal. Hypertension is called essential or primary when no cause for the high blood pressure can be found. (When the cause of hypertension is known, such as kidney disease and tumors, it is called secondary hypertension.) About 95% of all people with high blood pressure have essential hypertension.
Normal blood pressure ranges up to 120/80 ("120 over 80"), but blood pressure can rise and fall with exercise, rest, or emotions. It is measured in ...