(When the cause of hypertension is known, such as kidney disease and tumors, it is called secondary hypertension.) About 95% of all people with high blood pressure have essential hypertension.īlood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
Hypertension is called essential or primary when no cause for the high blood pressure can be found. Hypertension is the term for blood pressure that keeps being higher than normal. High Blood Pressure (Essential Hypertension) What is essential hypertension? Blood pressure is the force of blood against artery walls as the heart pumps blood through the body.
