hypertension

IPA/ˌhaɪpəˈtenʃn/
KK[hˌaɪpɚtˈɛnʃən]IPA/ˌhaɪpərˈtenʃn/

hypertension — noun

1. a long-term medical condition where blood moves through your arteries at a press

1.nounB2
Definition

a long-term medical condition where blood moves through your arteries at a pressure that stays too high, putting extra strain on your heart and blood vessels

Example

Haruto was diagnosed with hypertension during his annual check-up at the clinic.

be diagnosed with hypertension — getting a medical diagnosis

Doctors often advise patients to reduce their salt intake to help manage hypertension.

manage hypertension — controlling the condition over time

Common collocations
  • have hypertension
  • suffer from hypertension
  • be diagnosed with hypertension
  • develop hypertension
  • manage hypertension
  • treat hypertension
  • control hypertension
  • prevent hypertension
  • cause hypertension
  • hypertension medication
  • hypertension treatment
  • hypertension patient
  • severe hypertension
  • chronic hypertension
Synonyms
  • high blood pressure

    the everyday term used by non-medical speakers; less formal than 'hypertension'

  • elevated blood pressure

    a milder or pre-diagnostic stage; not all cases of elevated BP meet the threshold for hypertension

Antonyms
  • hypotension

    the medical term for abnormally low blood pressure; the opposite condition

Grammar Patterns

have hypertension

be diagnosed with hypertension

Usage Note

Hypertension is the formal medical term. In everyday conversation, most English speakers use the phrase 'high blood pressure' instead. The noun is uncountable — do not say 'a hypertension.'

Common Mistakes

He has a hypertension.
He has hypertension.
hypertension is an uncountable noun and cannot follow 'a.'
I got hypertension from stress.
I developed hypertension because of stress.
'got' sounds too casual for a medical diagnosis; 'developed' is the natural collocation.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Hypertension is the clinical term used by doctors and in medical writing — it refers to a diagnosed condition with specific measurement thresholds (typically 140/90 mmHg or higher). 'High blood pressure' is the everyday equivalent and is far more common in spoken English; it carries the same meaning but sounds natural in casual conversation. 'Elevated blood pressure' sits between normal and hypertensive readings (120–129 / <80 mmHg) and is not yet a diagnosis of hypertension. A doctor might say, 'Your blood pressure is slightly elevated — let's watch it,' while reserving 'You have hypertension' for a confirmed, ongoing condition.

hypertension ↗high blood pressureelevated blood pressure

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • high blood pressure
  • blood pressure reading
  • systolic pressure
  • diastolic pressure

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Coined in the early 20th century from the Greek prefix 'hyper-' (meaning 'over, above, beyond') and the Latin-derived word 'tension' (from 'tensus', 'to stretch'). The medical use of 'tension' for blood pressure dates to the 19th century. Before the term 'hypertension' became standard, doctors simply called the condition 'high blood pressure.'