Definition

Noun: * Essential hypertension: A medical condition characterized by chronically elevated blood pressure that has no identifiable single underlying cause. It is the most common type of high blood pressure, where the increase in pressure is "essential" or primary to the condition itself, rather than being secondary to another disease.

Usage

• Essential hypertension is used as a countable or uncountable noun to diagnose and describe the condition.
• It is a formal medical term. In general conversation, it is often simply called "high blood pressure," though that term can include both essential and secondary types.
• It is typically modified by verbs like , , , , and .

Examples

• After extensive tests, the doctor concluded it was a case of essential hypertension.
• Essential hypertension often develops gradually over many years.
• Lifestyle changes are the first-line treatment for managing essential hypertension.
• Most patients with high blood pressure have essential hypertension.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often contrasted with secondary hypertension, which is high blood pressure caused by an identifiable condition such as kidney disease or a hormonal disorder.
• In medical literature, it may be abbreviated as EH or referred to as primary hypertension.
• "Idiopathic hypertension" is a synonymous term, with "idiopathic" meaning "of unknown cause."

Variants and Related Words

• Hypertension (n): The general medical term for high blood pressure. Essential hypertension is a subtype of hypertension.
• Primary hypertension (n): A direct synonym for essential hypertension.
• Secondary hypertension (n): High blood pressure with a known, specific cause.
• Hypertensive (adj): Relating to or characterized by high blood pressure (e.g., a patient).

Synonyms

• Primary hypertension
• Idiopathic hypertension

Antonyms

• Secondary hypertension
• Normotension (normal blood pressure)

Related Phrases

• Risk factors for essential hypertension: Common phrases include family history, age, obesity, high sodium intake, physical inactivity, and stress.
• Complications of essential hypertension: Refers to potential long-term effects, such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney damage.

Noun

1. persistent and pathological high blood pressure for which no specific cause can be found