Hypertension

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High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called "pre-hypertension", and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.

To understand hypertension better, let's take a look at several categories of blood pressure, including:

People whose blood pressure is above the normal range should consult their doctor about methods for lowering it.

There are other types of hypertension, which include:

Gestational Hypertension - Some pregnant women may experience gestational hypertension after the twentieth week of pregnancy. As this eMedTV page explains, if gestational hypertension is caught early, complications affecting the organs, such as the brain, may be avoided.

Isolated Systolic Hypertension - If your systolic blood pressure is too high, you have isolated systolic hypertension. This eMedTV article offers an in-depth look at isolated systolic hypertension -- the most common form of the disease -- including causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Prehypertension - People with prehypertension have blood pressure readings that are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered hypertension. This eMedTV resource provides a detailed look at prehypertension and offers ways to control it.

White-Coat Hypertension - People who only experience high blood pressure when at the doctor's office have a condition called "white-coat hypertension." As this eMedTV article explains, white-coat hypertension doesn't require treatment other than self-monitoring at home.

Preeclampsia - Pregnant women with preeclampsia can experience decreased blood flow to vital organs, as well as the placenta. This page of the eMedTV website examines preeclampsia in detail, and describes possible causes and symptoms.

Sources:
eMedTV: http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/epilepsy/EPI_kinds.html
WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/hypertension-symptoms-types 

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. In 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.

The basic causes or underlying defects of essential hypertension are not always known. Genetic factors are thought to play a prominent role in the development of essential hypertension. However, the genes for hypertension have not yet been identified. (Genes are tiny portions of chromosomes that produce the proteins that determine the characteristics of individuals.) The current research in this area is focused on the genetic factors that affect the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. This system helps to regulate blood pressure by controlling salt balance and the tone (state of elasticity) of the arteries.

Some of the main causes for secondary hypertension are:

One of the big problems with high blood pressure is that it hardly ever causes symptoms.

This means it may go unnoticed until it causes one of its later complications such as a stroke or heart attack.

Despite the popularity of such ideas, nosebleeds and ruddy complexions are hardly ever caused by high blood pressure.

Severe hypertension can cause symptoms such as:

The goal of hypertension treatment is to lower high blood pressure and protect important organs, like the brain, heart, and kidneys from damage. Treatment for hypertension has been associated with reductions in stroke (reduced an average of 35%-40%), heart attack (20%-25%), and heart failure (more than 50%), according to research.

Treatment with medication is recommended to lower blood pressure to less than 140/90 mmHg. For patients who have diabetes or chronic kidney disease the recommended blood pressure is less than 130/80 mmHg.

Treating hypertension involves lifestyle changes and drug therapy:

Lifestyle Changes - A critical step in preventing and treating hypertension is a healthy lifestyle. You can lower your blood pressure with the following lifestyle modifications:

In addition to lowering blood pressure, these measures enhance the effectiveness of antihypertensive medications.

Medications - There are several types of drugs used to treat hypertension, including:

Diuretics are usually recommended as the first line of therapy for most people who have hypertension. If one drug doesn't work or is disagreeable, other types of diuretics are available.