hypertension
Known as thesilent killer,
hypertension often produces few overt symptoms; it may, however, result in damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys, or brain and ultimately lead tocongestive heart failure, heart attack (seeinfarction), kidney failure, orstroke. African Americans and women are the most affected. Treatment of hypertension includes diets to reduce weight and salt and alcohol intake, increased exercise, quitting smoking, and various drugs, such asdiuretics,ACE inhibitors,beta-blockers,calcium-channel blockersor angiotensin-receptor blockers, as well asbiofeedback. Many patients require a combination of drugs to control their blood pressure. Treatment for persons with prehypertension includes dietary and other lifestyle changes. Recent research has questioned the importance of dietary salt as a major contributor to hypertension; some studies point to low calcium intake as a cause.
See alsoeclampsia.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia,6th ed. Copyright © 2022, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on:Anatomy and Physiology