High blood pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a persistent elevation of the force of blood against artery walls that raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and heart failure.

It usually causes no symptoms, which is why it is called a silent condition, and is discovered through routine measurement. Readings are given as systolic over diastolic pressure in millimeters of mercury, and diagnosis rests on elevated readings on multiple occasions, often confirmed with home or 24-hour ambulatory monitoring. Most cases are primary, arising from age, genetics, salt intake, weight, inactivity and alcohol, while a minority are secondary to kidney, hormonal or sleep disorders.

Management combines lifestyle changes with one or more antihypertensive medications, with targets set individually. Small human studies have measured acute blood pressure and heart rate responses to cannabidiol under laboratory stress, but the evidence is insufficient to support any role in treating hypertension, and it is not a substitute for prescribed therapy.