hypertension
C1Formal, Technical, Medical
Definition
Meaning
A medical condition in which the pressure of the blood against the artery walls is consistently too high.
A state of great emotional or psychological tension or strain; excessive pressure or stress in a non-medical context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a medical term. The non-medical, metaphorical use ('emotional hypertension') is less common and typically found in literary or psychological contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical medical connotations. The metaphorical extension is equally rare in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in medical and general health contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suffer from hypertensionbe diagnosed with hypertensiontreat for hypertensionhypertension in [patient group]hypertension caused byVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “White coat hypertension (anxiety-induced high readings in clinical settings)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in corporate wellness reports or health insurance discussions.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and public health research papers.
Everyday
Common in general health discussions, doctor-patient conversations, and news articles about health.
Technical
The primary context. Used precisely in clinical medicine, cardiology, and pharmacology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The patient's condition began to hypertensive dangerously.
- Long-term stress can hypertensive the cardiovascular system.
American English
- The medication is intended to hypertensive the renal system.
- Factors that can hypertensive an individual are well-studied.
adverb
British English
- The blood pressure rose hypertensively.
- He reacted hypertensively to the news.
American English
- The readings were increasing hypertensively.
- She spoke hypertensively about the deadline.
adjective
British English
- He has a hypertensive disorder.
- The hypertensive crisis required immediate attention.
American English
- She is in a hypertensive state.
- Hypertensive patients need regular monitoring.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandfather has hypertension.
- The doctor checks for hypertension.
- Smoking can increase your risk of developing hypertension.
- She takes medication to control her hypertension.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HYPER (over/above) + TENSION (pressure) = pressure that is above normal.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRESSURE IS A FORCE (The excessive force of blood against vessel walls).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'гипертония' for all contexts; in precise medical English, 'hypertension' is the standard term, though 'hypertonia' exists for muscle tone.
- Do not confuse with 'hyperthyroidism' (гипертиреоз).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'hypertention'.
- Using 'hypertension' interchangeably with general 'stress' in formal writing.
- Incorrect pluralisation ('hypertensions'). It is typically a non-count noun.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a direct antonym of 'hypertension'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Hypertension specifically refers to chronically high blood pressure, a measurable physiological condition. Stress can be a contributing factor but is a psychological and emotional state.
Hypertension is usually a chronic condition that can be managed effectively with lifestyle changes and medication, but it is often not 'cured' in the sense of being permanently eliminated.
Essential (or primary) hypertension has no single identifiable cause and develops over many years. Secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying condition like kidney disease or thyroid problems.
In everyday language, yes. In strict medical terminology, 'hypertension' is the formal diagnosis based on specific, sustained blood pressure readings, whereas 'high blood pressure' can describe a single elevated reading.