hypertensieve

Hypertensieve is a Dutch term describing conditions related to hypertension. In English medical usage, the equivalent adjective is hypertensive and the condition is called hypertension. The term is used to classify individuals or medical situations characterized by persistently elevated arterial blood pressure.

Hypertension is the chronic elevation of arterial blood pressure. It increases the workload on the heart and damages blood vessels, contributing to atherosclerosis and organ injury. Most cases are primary (essential) hypertension with no single identifiable cause; secondary hypertension results from conditions such as kidney disease, adrenal disorders, thyroid disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, or certain medications.

Diagnosis and measurement rely on repeated blood pressure readings taken with proper technique on separate occasions. Ambulatory or home blood pressure monitoring can help detect white coat hypertension (elevated readings in a clinical setting) or masked hypertension (normal readings in clinic but elevated elsewhere).

Risk factors and epidemiology: Age, obesity, physical inactivity, high-sodium diet, excessive alcohol use, smoking, family history, and certain ethnic backgrounds contribute to risk. Hypertension is highly prevalent worldwide and becomes more common with aging, representing a major driver of cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney disease, and eye complications.

Management focuses on both lifestyle changes and medication when needed. Lifestyle interventions include weight reduction, regular physical activity, the DASH diet, salt reduction, and limitation of alcohol. Pharmacotherapy commonly starts with thiazide diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or calcium channel blockers; combination therapy may be required. Treatment goals and choices vary with guidelines and individual patient factors.