Hypertension

Diabetes and hypertension are powerful risk factors for cardiovascular disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, renal failure. Five percent (5%) of high blood pressure cases are caused by glandular or hormonal abnormalities. The other 95 percent (95%) are caused by essential hypertension from diet, body size, stress, and heredity. Hypertension alone is not likely to cause sudden collapse. However, complications from sustained hypertension can cause headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and spontaneous nosebleeds, and if untreated heart attack or stroke. A systolic/diastolic blood pressure of even 140/90 is probably too high in diabetes, because renal damage starts when blood is in the high normal range.

See high blood pressure.

(HY-per-TEN-shun) A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. Hypertension usually has no symptoms. It can harm the arteries and cause an increase in the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and blindness. Also called high blood pressure.

Hypertension is high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure raises your risk for heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death in the United States.