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High Blood Pressure

Alternative Names: 

Hypertension

Definition: 

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which a person’s blood pressure is too high. Blood pressure is measured in two readings. The top number is the systolic pressure number, indicating the pressure created when the heart beats. The bottom number notes the diastolic pressure created inside blood vessels when the heart is at rest. High blood pressure occurs when the systolic pressure is over 140 and/or the diastolic pressure is over 90.

Symptoms: 
Exams/Testing: 

Testing for high blood pressure is completed using a blood pressure cuff known as a sphygmomanometer. The cuff is placed around the arm and inflated and reports both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure numbers. The test is not painful, though a patient will experience pressure when the cuff is inflated. 

To test for the cause of high blood pressure, a health care professional may request blood, hormone, urine or lipid tests. These tests typically evaluate cholesterol levels, blood sugar, sodium and potassium. The tests may also indicate whether there are any issues with a patient's heart or kidneys. 

A routine physical examination may be requested to continually evalutate a patient's blood pressure.

Outlook/Prognosis: 

Those with high blood pressure can usually treat the condition with medication and diet and lifestyle changes.

If high blood pressure is not treated, it can lead to the following conditions:

  • Heart failure
  • Aneurysm (abnormal widening of an artery)
  • Metabolic syndrome (increased risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease)
  • Difficulty remembering
  • Damage to arteries
  • Ruptured or blocked blood vessel in the brain
  • Weakened blood vesssels in the kidneys
Causes (specific drugs): 
Bactrim
BetaTan
Bontril
Celebrex
Effexor
Meridia
Neurontin
NuvaRing
Ortho Evra
Viagra
Yasmin
Yaz