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Pulmonary Hypertension Article
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Hypertension
from: Kyle BesserHypertension, which is also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. In current usage, when the word "hypertension" is used without a qualifier, it normally refers to systemic, arterial hypertension. The other type of hypertension is pulmonary hypertension and involves lung circulation.
Hypertension can be classified as either essential (primary) or secondary. Essential hypertension indicates that no specific medical cause can be found to explain a person's high blood pressure. Secondary hypertension indicates that the high blood pressure is a result of another condition, such as kidney disease. About 90-95% of hypertension is essential hypertension.
Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Even a moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure can lead to a shortened life expectancy. A person with severely high pressures, defined as mean arterial pressures 50% or more above average, has a life expectancy of no more than a few years without appropriate treatment.
One of the most dangerous aspects of hypertension is that you may not know that you have it. There are generally no symptoms of high blood pressure, so you usually don't feel it. It is estimated that nearly one-third of the people who have hypertension don't know it. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure.
If your blood pressure is extremely high, there may be certain symptoms to look out for, including:
Severe headache
Fatigue or confusion
Vision problems
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Irregular heartbeat
Blood in the urine
Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately. You could be having a hypertensive crisis that could lead to a heart attack or stroke. Untreated hypertension can lead to serious diseases, including stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and eye problems.
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