Hypertension- a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of ≥140 mm Hg, or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of ≥90 mm Hg - affects between 50-60 million adult individuals in the United States, 42.3 million in China, and approximately 1 billion individuals worldwide. Hypertension is a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.

The causes of high blood pressure are mostly unknown. 2 types of hypertensions are: essential or primary and secondary. The essential hypertension without identified causes represents 90 – 95%, and their pathogenesis is multifactorial and complex. Various renal and endocrinal diseases and medications are the causes of secondary hypertension.

Despite efforts at lifestyle modifications, most hypertensive patients require pharmacologic treatment. The primary goals of treatment are to achieve maximum reduction in long-term total and cardiovascular risk.

The relationship between high blood pressure and other conditions is not only with pregnancy, but also with obesity and older age. Obesity causes an increase in the cardiac output and the blood volume, and in the arterial resistance. Blood pressure increases with age because the arteries harden. An overweight child that has a family history of hypertension is at greater risk of hypertension.