General Cardiology
What Is Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition in which blood pressure remains consistently elevated.
It is often called a silent condition because many people have no symptoms.
Over time, uncontrolled hypertension can damage:
- The heart
- Brain
- Kidneys
- Eyes
- Blood vessels
Important contributing factors include:
- Family history
- Age
- Excess body weight
- High salt intake
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Poor sleep
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
Treatment focuses on lifestyle modification and, when indicated, medical therapy.
Effective blood pressure control can substantially reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.