Hypertension

Most people (I will use this term rather than the term patients), when diagnosed with hypertension, have what is referred to as primary or essential hypertension, meaning that there is not one distinct reason for the blood pressure reading above what is normal. In other words, most people have many different and often undefined reasons for hypertension, such as stress, obesity and other risk factors. Rarely, however, there are people who have hypertension due a very defined reason, such as renal (or kidney) disease, an endocrine disorder, or a neurological disorder, among other reasons. Because secondary hypertension is rare, we will focus on essential or primary hypertension, as this is the most common form. We will then discuss risk factors and ways in which hypertension can be effectively controlled. What is most important here is that if you feel or a loved one feels that he or she has hypertension, do not use the information in this article as a primary source; rather, see your family physician immediately. Because hypertension is a serious problem, it is important to have it diagnosed as early as possible as it can lead to heart attack, stroke, or other serious complications.

Because there are numerous factors that affect blood pressure, it is impossible to discuss all of them in one article. However, the purpose of this article is to familiarize you with the idea of having your blood pressure taken and what risk factors are generally considered dangerous when hypertension is a problem. Often, when one goes to see a clinician for a check of their blood pressure, such as a follow-up or even for the first visit, very little is discussed and, if appropriate, medications are given that will help control the blood pressure. But, it is important to know a few things about blood pressure, how it is controlled, and how hypertension is most effectively treated. In today's world of medicine, some responsibility is given to the patient, i.e., patients are expected to ask questions, seek out different ways of helping themselves, etc., and it is important to know that you should be aware of what is being given to you in terms of medications; if you don't know, ask.

During the first visit to your physician or clinician, as stated previously, hypertension, in and of itself, should not be entertained, at least not in terms of a diagnosis. Although it remains controversial,

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