Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.
It means that there is elevated pressure within the arteries and veins through which blood flows to and from the heart. About half of all people over 50 develop hypertension. But it s a common misconception that high blood pressure is a normal part of aging. In fact, hypertension can be considered an early warning of problems developing in the cardiovascular or other organ systems. People with hypertension have a higher than normal risk for coronary heart disease and heart attacks, heart failure, stroke or transient ischemic attack, peripheral vascular disease, and kidney disease.