Living with hypertension
You can find all the necessary information to understand hypertension, its global impact, its causes and consequences, and how to get hypertension under control.
Hypertension
What is hypertension?
First, let us consider blood pressure
The heart plays the role of a pump that moves blood throughout the body, which ensures that oxygen and nutrients are delivered to every tissue and organ. To do so, the heart generates a force to make blood run through the arteries, which is called BLOOD PRESSURE.1Two main factors contribute to the variations of blood pressure:The more blood the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries are, the higher the blood pressure is.2
The amount of blood pumped by the heart.
The amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries.
Definition of hypertension
Blood pressure can be low, normal, or high, and there is a range that is considered a healthy blood pressure; but over time and with age, blood pressure rises. Why? The walls of large arteries become more rigid and the small blood vessels become narrower. Because of these changes, the heart has to generate a greater force to keep blood flowing around the body. This leads to an increase in blood pressure.3 Hypertension is defined as blood pressure that is consistently equal or higher than 140/90 mm Hg4; it is common not to notice any high blood pressure symptoms.
SYSTOLIC blood pressure (mm Hg):
The highest level of blood pressure, when blood is pumped from the heart to the entire body.
DIASTOLIC blood pressure (mm Hg):
The lowest level of blood pressure, when your heart is relaxed before it contracts.
Non-elevated blood pressure4
- Systolic: <120 mm Hg
- Diastolic: <70 mm Hg
Elevated blood pressure4
- Systolic: 120–139 mm Hg
- Diastolic: 70–89 mm Hg
Hypertension4
- Systolic: ≥140 mm Hg
- Diastolic: ≥90 mm Hg
BLOOD PRESSURE CLASSIFICATION4
Sys <120 & Dia <70 | Sys 120-139 &/or Dia 70-89 | Sys ≥140 &/or Dia ≥90 | Sys 140-159 &/or Dia 90-99 | Sys 160-179 &/or Dia 100-109 | Sys ≥180 &/or Dia ≥110 | Sys ≥140 &/or Dia <90 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-elevated blood pressure | Elevated blood pressure | Hypertension | GRADE 1 HYPERTENSION | GRADE 2 HYPERTENSION | GRADE 3 HYPERTENSION | ISOLATED SYSTOLIC HYPERTENSION* | |
| “Good, keep going!” | “Your blood pressure should be recorded at least annually, and you should be offered lifestyle advice. If you have a very high cardiovascular risk—particularly due to an existing cardiovascular condition like coronary artery disease—medical treatment might be warranted. In addition, for certain individuals in this blood pressure range who have an elevated overall cardiovascular risk (as determined by risk stratification), pharmacological therapy may be initiated." | “You should consult a healthcare provider for further evaluation. Lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes, increased physical activity, and reduced sodium intake, should be implemented. Medical treatment is usually required, and therapy should be individualized based on overall cardiovascular risk, presence of target organ damage, or other comorbidities.” | “In case of low-to-moderate risk grade 1 hypertension, with no link to any organ damage, a medical treatment is recommended if a period of lifestyle intervention does not lower blood pressure to acceptable levels. In any other case, your blood pressure needs to be reduced with a medical treatment, and you should as well follow lifestyle advice.” | “Medical treatment is recommended if a period of lifestyle intervention does not lower blood pressure to acceptable levels.” | |||
*These blood pressure classifications are based on office measurements.
To confirm a diagnosis of hypertension, measurements should ideally be verified using out-of-office techniques such as home or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (HBPM or ABPM). Dia: diastolic; Sys: systolic. | |||||||
Hypertension: a worldwide problem5
1.3 billion
Around the world, hypertension affects about 1.3 billion people.5
34%
Prevalence in men.5
32%
Prevalence in women.5
60%
Prevalence in patients over 60 years old.2
Age-standardized prevalence of hypertension among adults aged 30–79 years, and among those with hypertension, diagnosis, treatment, and effective treatment coverage in 2019, by WHO region 1
What are the causes of hypertension?
There are 2 types of hypertension: primary (or essential hypertension) and secondary hypertension. Both are treated by blood-pressure lowering medication/treatments and other measures.Primary hypertension
In primary hypertension, the causes of high blood pressure are not obvious. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing high blood pressure:
Lack of physical activity.
Stress.
Excessive weight.
Excessive alcohol intake.
Excessive salt intake or too little potassium.
Chronic heavy smoking.
Caffeine.
Sugar.
Family history:
Genetic factors likely play some role in high blood pressure, and sharing a common environment and other potential factors may also increase the risk.2
Race or ethnicity:
Black people develop hypertension more often than other ethnicities, and at a younger age.
Secondary hypertension
In secondary hypertension, the reason for high blood pressure is identifiable (for example, an abnormal production of hormones from the adrenal glands). Only a small number of patients suffer from this kind of hypertension. Once the cause is found and treated correctly, blood pressure should return to normal.With whom should I discuss this if I want to find out more?
Your general practitioner is the right person to ask about blood pressure.
References
4
McEvoy JW et al; ESC Scientific Document Group. Eur Heart J. 2024;45(38):3912-4018.
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Last modified date: 5/13/2024
