Definition

A medical condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is consistently too high, which can lead to health problems.

Example

The doctor diagnosed her with hypertension after measuring her blood pressure several times.

Conversation

I just found out my doctor thinks I might have hypertension.

Oh no, that sounds serious! What did they say?

They told me to monitor my blood pressure and make some lifestyle changes.

Good idea! Staying active can really help with hypertension.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hypertension is formed from "hyper-" (meaning over or excessive) and "tensio" (from Latin, meaning tension or pressure). The word describes a condition of excessive tension or pressure in the blood vessels.

Memory Tip

Think of 'hyper-' meaning excessive and 'tensio' relating to pressure — hypertension refers to having excessive pressure in the blood.

Visually Confused Words