The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension, abbreviated HTN, meaning the push of blood on the walls of the arteries remains raised over a long period. One high reading does not make the diagnosis; it is based on repeated measurements.
Hypertension is said hy-per-TEN-shun, and it turns up on adult problem lists more than almost any other diagnosis. It rarely causes symptoms, which is why it is often found at routine checks. This page covers what the word parts mean, how readings are grouped, the main types, and the shorthand that surrounds it in notes.
At a glance
Medical term
HypertensionAbbreviation
HTNWord roots
hyper above or excessive, tension pressureOpposite
Hypotension, low blood pressureMain types
Primary (essential) and secondaryMeasured as
BP in mm Hg, systolic over diastolic
Word parts in the medical term for high blood pressure
Hypertension joins the prefix hyper, meaning above or excessive, with tension, meaning pressure or strain. Its opposite, hypotension, uses hypo for below. The same prefixes appear in hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia for high and low blood sugar.
Every reading is written as a pair of numbers. The top number, systolic pressure (SBP), is the pressure when the heart squeezes. The bottom number, diastolic pressure, is the pressure between beats. Both are measured in millimeters of mercury, written mm Hg, so 128/82 is read as 128 over 82.
How readings are grouped
In the US, many clinicians use these adult categories from major heart organizations. Other countries and some guidelines draw the lines differently, often starting hypertension at 140/90, and your clinician may use a different target for you.
| Group | Top number | Bottom number |
|---|---|---|
| In the normal range | Below 120 | Also below 80 |
| Elevated pressure | 120 through 129 | Still below 80 |
| Hypertension, stage one | Anywhere in the 130s | Or anywhere in the 80s |
| Hypertension, stage two | 140 and up | Or 90 and up |
| Severe range, prompt attention | Above 180 | Or above 120 |
A very high reading with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, confusion or vision change is an emergency.
Primary, secondary and other labels
- Primary or essential hypertension: no single identifiable cause. It develops gradually and accounts for most adult cases.
- Secondary hypertension: caused by another condition, such as kidney disease, sleep apnea, certain hormone disorders, or some medicines.
- White coat hypertension: readings are high in the clinic but normal at home.
- Masked hypertension: the reverse, normal in the clinic but high at home.
- Resistant hypertension: blood pressure stays above goal despite several medicines.
Long term high pressure can strain the heart, causing LVH, a thickened heart wall, and it can damage the kidneys, eyes and brain.
Hypertension in real chart lines
Past medical history: "PMH: essential hypertension, controlled on lisinopril." This reads as long standing high blood pressure without a specific cause, kept in range by a medicine called lisinopril.
Other common entries include "HTN, uncontrolled" when readings are above goal, "hypertensive urgency" for very high pressure without organ damage, and "hypertensive emergency" when very high pressure is harming organs. In pregnancy, notes may refer to gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. Home readings are often logged as average values to give a truer picture than a single clinic check.
A few points for students
Write hypertension or HTN in the problem list, not high BP, and record the reading with position and arm when it matters. Remember that the word tension here means pressure, not stress, so hypertension is not the same as being tense. Find more everyday and clinical pairs in the medical terminology guide.
Blood pressure goals and treatment are set person by person. Your primary care clinician can explain what your readings mean and what plan suits you.
Frequently asked questions
What do doctors call high blood pressure?
Doctors call it hypertension, often written HTN in charts. Low blood pressure is hypotension.
Does hypertension mean being stressed?
No. In this word, tension refers to pressure inside the arteries. Stress can raise blood pressure for a short time, but hypertension is a measured medical condition.
What is essential hypertension?
It is high blood pressure with no single identifiable cause, the most common form in adults. It is also called primary hypertension.
What number counts as high blood pressure?
Many US guidelines label 130/80 or higher as hypertension, while others use 140/90. Your clinician decides based on repeated readings and your overall health.
What does HTN stand for?
HTN is the standard chart abbreviation for hypertension. It appears in problem lists, histories and discharge summaries.