Conditions and symptoms
What Is Hypertension? High Blood Pressure
Hypertension · say it: hy-per-TEN-shunAlso written: high blood pressure, HTN, raised blood pressure
Short answer
Hypertension means high blood pressure: the force of blood against artery walls stays higher than it should over time.
What it means
Hypertension is the medical word for high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. When it stays high over time, it puts extra strain on the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and brain. Most people with hypertension feel no symptoms, which is why it is checked regularly.
It shows up on medicine labels in two ways. Some labels warn that the medicine can raise blood pressure, such as some decongestants and NSAID pain relievers, so people with hypertension are asked to check with a doctor first. Other medicines are labelled as treatments 'for hypertension'.
Hypertension (high pressure) is the opposite of hypotension (low pressure). It is also different from feeling stressed or 'hyper'; the name comes from the pressure in the arteries, not from tension or nerves.
Where you may see it
- Over-the-counter decongestant and pain-relief labels: 'Ask a doctor before use if you have high blood pressure'
- Blood pressure medicine labels under 'Indications'
- Clinic letters, problem lists and discharge summaries
📄 How it looks on a report
Ask a doctor before use if you have high blood pressure.
🙅 What it does not mean
- One high reading does not mean you have hypertension. It is usually confirmed with repeated readings.
- Feeling well does not mean your blood pressure is fine; it often causes no symptoms.
- It is not caused only by stress or nerves.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Hypertension”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Acyclovir
An antiviral medicine of the nucleoside analogue type, used against herpesviruses
- Albendazole
an anthelmintic drug, a medicine used to treat infections caused by parasitic worms
- Albuterol
A bronchodilator (a medicine that opens the airways) of the beta-2 adrenergic type. The FDA class is not listed, so this description comes from the label's own wording.
- Amlodipine
a calcium channel blocker, a type of medicine that relaxes blood vessels
- Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium
A penicillin-class antibacterial combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor, as the label describes it
- Aripiprazole
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Aspirin
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a platelet aggregation inhibitor
- Atenolol
a beta-blocker (beta-adrenergic blocker). The label describes it as a beta 1-selective, or cardioselective, blocking agent.
- Bisoprolol Fumarate
a beta-blocker, which the label describes as a synthetic, beta 1-selective (cardioselective) adrenoceptor blocking agent
- Bupropion Hydrochloride
an aminoketone antidepressant, a type of medicine used to treat depression
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Hypertension” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “hypertension”
Seeing this word on your own report? Get every line of it explained, free.
Explain my report🧩 Related words
🔎 Look up another word
More words: conditions and symptoms
General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.