Lesson 1 - What is Hypertension?

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All hypertension cases are defined as having a consistently elevated blood pressure. There are a variety of hypertension cases, though the two main types are Essential and Secondary Hypertension. Below is a brief list of hypertension diagnoses.

Essential hypertension
Most hypertension cases fall into the category of essential (also referred to as primary) hypertension. Once diagnosed, this type cannot be cured, but can be kept under control with regular, ongoing treatment.

Secondary hypertension
Secondary hypertension is much less common than the essential type. This is usually caused by another illness, and it is often cured once the original medical problem is taken care of.

White-coat hypertension
White-coat hypertension is diagnosed when an individual's blood pressure is high only when it is taken in a medical setting. If you tend to get very nervous when going to the doctor's office, your doctor may take your pressure a number of times during your visit, especially once you've had the chance to relax a little bit. If your readings are unexpectedly high, your may doctor suspect white-coat hypertension, and ask that you have your pressure taken outside of the office before making any kind of diagnosis.

Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a form of hypertension, found in pregnant women. This usually appears in the last three months before delivery, and is cured upon delivery. Although this is a somewhat common condition, if left untreated, preeclampsia can be hazardous to both the woman and the baby. Learn more about preeclampsia.

Birth control pills
When a woman begins using birth control pills, her blood pressure is apt to increase slightly. The risk seems to increase with age and length of use of the pill. Those who develop hypertension should consider stopping use of the pill.

Primary pulmonary hypertension
Primary (or, unexplained) pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a rare lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels, for no apparent reason. This is a relatively rare disorder that in recent times has been associated with the appetite suppressants, fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine. Learn more about primary pulmonary hypertension.

In case you're wondering, being hypotensive, or, having a slightly lower blood pressure (for example, 110/70), is thought to be safe for most people. However, if you're blood pressure is much lower than this figure, or you are concerned about anything that has to do with your health, you should definitely consult your doctor!

For this course, let's concentrate on the most common form — essential hypertension — its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

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