Definition of Chronic Hypertension

Chronic hypertension is serious medical condition that if left untreated can lead to fatal complications. The condition often occurs with other medical issues but can be seen on its own. Typically, treatment of the other medical problems will help resolve the hypertension. Patients with hypertension should seek medical attention immediately and stay closely supervised until it resolves.

What it is

• Hypertension is another term for high blood pressure. When the left ventricle of the heart contracts pumping blood to the body pressure is at its highest. For the average healthy person at rest this number should be 115 mmHg for this systolic pressure. Diastolic pressure is when the ventricles are filled with blood and is the lowest pressure time --- this number should be around 75 mmHg. When events occur to raise a person's pressures, it is called being hypertensive, but these numbers rise in healthy people during exercise or stress.

Symptoms

• Hypertension itself is usually asymptomatic, meaning the patient won't feel any effects from it directly. Patients experiencing it are often feeling the effects of other health issues, which cause them to seek medical attention. Occasionally, headache is noted but that could be the result of numerous things. In the case of a critical state of high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, confusion and trouble with vision have been noted.

Effects

• Chronic or persistent hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and aneurysm. The constant stress on the cardiovascular system by the increased pressures means the heart must constantly work harder then normal to push blood through the system. The veins and arteries are also under chronic stress trying to contain the pressure. Imagine a balloon blown up until it almost bursts --- like this example, spontaneous breaks called aneurysms can occur in the system. If an aneurysm occurs in the lungs or brain it can be instantly fatal.

How you get it

• Occasionally the hypertension is secondary to another issue like kidney failure or pregnancy, but is usually the result of unknown causes. There are, however, many risk factors often noted in patients with the primary type of hypertension. People who are technically obese, who smoke, abuse alcohol or have a salt sensitivity typically also have hypertension.

Treatment

• Hypertension can be treated with medication but also resolves on its own when other factors like obesity, excessive drinking and smoking are addressed. Due to the serious effects of having hypertension, a physician should be seen to determine the best course of action in resolving it. Attempts at exercise could cause more harm then good to the fragile cardiovascular system, so weight loss should be supervised.