What is the medical term for high blood pressure?

Hypertension is the medical term used to describe high blood pressure. This condition occurs when the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high, leading to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems. Blood pressure is typically expressed as two numbers: systolic (the pressure when the heart beats) over diastolic (the pressure when the heart rests between beats). When these values are elevated beyond normal ranges, healthcare professionals diagnose hypertension.

Understanding this condition is essential, as managing hypertension often involves lifestyle changes and sometimes medication to prevent the associated health risks. In contrast, the other terms refer to different medical conditions: hypotension indicates low blood pressure, bradycardia refers to a slower than normal heart rate, and tachycardia indicates a faster than normal heart rate. Each of these conditions has its own implications and concerns, clearly distinguishing them from hypertension, which specifically addresses elevated blood pressure levels.