Prehypertension
Prehypertension (pronounced: pre-hy-per-ten-shun) is a medical term used to describe a state where a person's blood pressure is elevated above normal, but not high enough to be classified as hypertension.
Etymology
The term "prehypertension" is derived from the prefix "pre-" which means "before", and "hypertension", a medical term for high blood pressure. It was first introduced by the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) in 2003.
Definition
Prehypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure reading between 120 and 139 mmHg, or a diastolic blood pressure reading between 80 and 89 mmHg. It is considered a warning sign that one may develop hypertension if steps are not taken to prevent it.
Related Terms
- Blood pressure: The force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.
- Hypertension: A chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.
- Systolic pressure: The top number in a blood pressure reading, it measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats.
- Diastolic pressure: The bottom number in a blood pressure reading, it measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.
- Cardiovascular disease: A class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels.
Prevention and Management
Lifestyle modifications are typically recommended to manage prehypertension and prevent its progression to hypertension. These may include maintaining a healthy weight, regular physical activity, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, reducing sodium intake, and limiting alcohol consumption.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Prehypertension
- Wikipedia's article - Prehypertension
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