Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition in which the force of blood against the artery walls is persistently elevated. Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers: systolic pressure (the pressure when the heart beats) over diastolic pressure (the pressure when the heart rests between beats), measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). A reading consistently above 140/90 mmHg is considered hypertensive in most adults, though targets may differ for individuals with diabetes or kidney disease.
Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease. It is also a significant contributor to the development of coronary artery disease, which is the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest in adults over 35. Sustained uncontrolled hypertension can cause thickening and stiffening of the heart muscle (left ventricular hypertrophy) and accelerate arterial damage.
Hypertension is often asymptomatic and is frequently discovered incidentally at a routine check. Treatment includes lifestyle measures (reduced salt intake, regular physical activity, healthy weight, limiting alcohol) and, where needed, medication. First-line antihypertensive medications include ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, and thiazide diuretics. Beta-blockers such as bisoprolol may also be used, particularly when hypertension coexists with heart failure or arrhythmia.
For cardiac arrest survivors, good blood pressure control is an important part of long-term secondary prevention to reduce the risk of further cardiac events.
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