Essential hypertension is a subtype of arterial hypertension in which no one specific etiology can be isolated as the cause of increased blood pressure. Over 95% of all cases of hypertension fall into the category of essential hypertension. It is thought that essential hypertension is the result of a complex interaction between many physical, physiological, and environmental factors.
Hypertension is defined, in adults, as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140mm Hg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure.
Hypertension is the most important cause of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the western world.
Hypertension should be treated when it is determined to be too high on 2-3 occasions over a period of 3-6 months2.
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.
Malignant hypertension (or accelerated hypertension) is distinct as a late phase in the condition, and may present with headaches, blurred vision and end-organ damage.
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