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
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
The rice diet, originally developed by Dr. Walter Kempner in the 1930s, was designed to address specific medical conditions, primarily high blood pressure (hypertension) and kidney disease.
—Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 29 July 2025
According to the Mayo Clinic, pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 28 July 2025
People ages 60 and older and those with certain medical conditions — like cancer, diabetes, hypertension or kidney disease — are at greater risk for serious illness.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypertension
Cite this Entry
“Hypertension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypertension. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hypertension
noun
Medical Definition
hypertension
noun
Share