hypertension
noun
Did you know?
You might have thought that hypertension was what a movie audience feels near the climax of a thriller, but you would have been wrong. High blood pressure—that is high pressure against the walls of your veins and arteries caused by blood flow—often occurs when the arteries or veins become blocked or narrowed, making the heart work harder to pump blood. But many cases seem to be the result of smoking or taking in too much salt, and many are genetically caused. Hypertension is serious, since it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Though it often produces no warning symptoms, your blood pressure can be checked quickly and easily by a nurse. If it's high, it can usually be controlled by stopping smoking, losing weight, lowering your salt intake, and exercising—and if all else fails, by medication.
Examples of hypertension in a Sentence
Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
Someone conceived before but born after sugar rations ended in September 1953 had about a 15% lower risk of diabetes than someone conceived after that, and a 5% lower risk of hypertension.
—Bycatherine Offord, science.org, 31 Oct. 2024
As Feeding America reports, food insecurity is linked to poor nutrition, which can greatly increase the risk of hypertension and diabetes — two chronic conditions that often require expensive medications to manage.
—Avalaunch Media, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2024
According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), better management of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension could prevent 30-50% of heart attacks, strokes, cancers and kidney failures.
—Robert Pearl, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Hypertension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypertension. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
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hypertension
noun
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hypertension
noun
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