essential hypertension

Persistently high pressure in the arteries. Usually silent, but it strains the heart, brain, kidneys and vessels for years.

A hypertension with no known cause. It is the most common type of hypertension.

Signs and symptoms

• Elevated diastolic blood pressure
• Elevated mean arterial pressure
• Elevated systolic blood pressure

Also known as: idiopathic hypertension; primary hypertension