The term, blood pressure usually refers to arterial pressure, which is the pressure in the larger arteries, veins and capillaries. The systolic arterial pressure is the peak pressure in the arteries, and this takes place near the beginning of the cardiac cycle – the diastolic arterial pressure is the lowest pressure which occurs at the resting phase of the cardiac cycle. Hypertension is when the arterial pressure is abnormally high. The healthy adult should have a pressure of 120/80.

Causes of Blood Pressure

In about 10% of people, high blood pressure is caused by a disease called secondary hypertension. When the basic cause is treated, the blood pressure usually returns to normal. These secondary causes include

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