I.

Introduction
Hypertension is defined as a sustained elevation of
systemic arterial blood pressure. Individuals are
diagnosed as having hypertension when the average of
two or more blood pressure measurements made on two
or more consecutive clinical visits documents a diastolic
pressure of 90 mmHg or greater or a systolic pressure of
140 mmHg or greater. Systolic hypertension even when
not accompanied by an increase in diastolic pressure, is
the most significant factor in causing target ogan
damage. A new classification scheme was introduced in
2003 and is presented in a table that will be showed later
on. "Optimal" blood pressure is associated with the lowest
cardiocascular risk, whereas those who fall into the
prehypertension category are at risk, whereas those who
fall into the prehypertension category are at risk for
developing hypertension unless life-style modification is
instituted. All stages of hypertension are associated with
the increased risk for target organ disease events, such
as myocardial infarctionm kidney diseasem and stroke
thus both stage I and 2 hypertension need effective long
therm theraphy.
What causes hypertension?
It is caused by increases in cardiac output, total
peripheral resistance or both. Cardiac output is increased
by any condition that increases heart rate or stroke
volume, whereas peripheral resistance is increased by
any factor that increases blood viscosity or reduces
vessel diameter particularly arteriolar diameter.

Individuals with hypertensive disease may have

combined systolic and diastolic hypertension or isolated
systolic hypertension. Most cases of combined systolic
and diastolic hypertension have no known cause and
therefore are diagnosed as primary hypertension. It is
also called essential or idiopathic hypertension, affects
90% to 95% of hypertensive individuals. Secondary
hypertension is caused by altered hemodynamics
associated with a primary disease, such as renal disease.
Although many diseases can cause secondary
hypertension, this form of hypertension accounts for only
5% to 8% of cases. Isolated systolic hypertension is
elevated systolic blood pressure accompanied by normal
diastolic blood pressure. Isolated systolic hypertension is
a manifestation of increased cardiac output of rigidity of
the aorta or both.
TABLE
Hypertension Stage 2
Biography pictures