hypertension
noun
Did you know?
You might have thought that hypertension was what a movie audience feels near the climax of a thriller, but you would have been wrong. High blood pressure—that is high pressure against the walls of your veins and arteries caused by blood flow—often occurs when the arteries or veins become blocked or narrowed, making the heart work harder to pump blood. But many cases seem to be the result of smoking or taking in too much salt, and many are genetically caused. Hypertension is serious, since it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Though it often produces no warning symptoms, your blood pressure can be checked quickly and easily by a nurse. If it's high, it can usually be controlled by stopping smoking, losing weight, lowering your salt intake, and exercising—and if all else fails, by medication.
Examples of hypertension in a Sentence
George Ramsay, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The report did not include a cause of death but noted the deceased had a history of hypertension and end-stage liver disease.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
The newest Apple Watch can detect signs of hypertension; the Oura Ring is offering new menopause tracking features (and pretty new ceramic bands); the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is getting into biomarker testing with a brand new antioxidant tracking and vascular load features.
—Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2025
High Blood Pressure Ginger may help reduce blood pressure by inhibiting the body’s angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which plays a role in developing hypertension (high blood pressure).
—Lauren O'Connor, Health, 21 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hypertension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypertension. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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hypertension
noun
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hypertension
noun
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