What is Hypertension? Hypertension is a disease of the vascular system which occurs when the blood pressure is elevated, if continued over a prolonged period of time it kills the host. There are two pressures recognized, a) systolic and b) diastolic. Systolic blood pressure occurs when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure occurs when the heart fills. When the systolic pressure is measured above 140 or the diastolic above 90 then hypertension is present. Causes of hypertension can be genetics, lifestyle, nicotine, caffeine, drugs, high salt intake, obesity, lack of physical activity and more. Long term of effects of hypertension are many. These include but are not limited to heart disease, stroke, loss of limbs, aneurysms and death. Treatment are many. These in include low salt diets, a vast array of medications, weight loss, extreme lifestyle changes, reduction or elimination of nicotine and more. Thank you for allowing me to answer this question. Mark Davis, MD