by Caroline Fraissinet

Created on: June 05, 2008   Last Updated: June 09, 2008

Pulmonary hypertension, otherwise known simply as "high blood pressure," is the condition where the patient's blood pressure is raised to a chronic level. It can be either an essential (primary) or secondary condition, meaning that it is either related to another health condition (such as kidney disease or tumors) or that it does not have any direct medical cause. Primary pulmonary hypertension is the most common form of hypertension, affecting 91% of Americans diagnosed with the condition. Hypertension can be linked as a symptom to chronic diseases such as stroke, heart attack or renal failure, and even a moderate elevation in blood pressure can reduce a patient's life expectancy (if raised above 50%, a patient's life expectancy could be as short as a few years if not properly treated.)

The only test for hypertension that can be conducted is a blood pressure measurement. These can be conducted during a routine medical check-up, and most cases are found incidentally after complaints of stress and/or anxiety. The condition is diagnosed when the systolic blood pressure is consistently above 140 mmHg or the diastolic blood pressure is consistently above 90 mmHg. In 2003, the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure defined blood pressure between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg as "prehypertension," meaning that individuals should be aware of the risk for hypertension and begin to seek prevention treatment.

Treatment of hypertension is relatively easy, and can often be linked to healthier lifestyle choices. Incorporation of regular exercise and adoption of diets low in sodium and fat can be enough to treat mild to moderate cases of hypertension, and reduction of alcohol and tobacco use as well as meditation and relaxation therapy can also be beneficial. Folic acid is particularly beneficial in the prevention of hypertension, and can be found in foods such as leafy greens and certain fortified breakfast cereals, as well as vitamins with substance 2b. There are also many medicines on the market that aid against hypertension, including alpha and beta blockers such as Lopressor or terazosin, as well as ACE inhibitors such as Zestril or Alprace. Prescription medicine should be used in severe cases, when diet and exercise are not enough to control the condition. Resources for hypertension patients and their families can be found through the American Heart Association, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and HeartPoint.

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