What is Hypertension?
- EvergreenMedicalClinic
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) is a medical condition where the pressure of blood flowing through your arteries is consistently too high.
Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood into your blood vessels. This creates pressure against the artery walls. When this pressure stays high over time, it becomes hypertension.
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:
Systolic pressure (top number): pressure when the heart beats
Diastolic pressure (bottom number): pressure when the heart rests
A normal reading is around 120/80 mmHg.
Hypertension is usually diagnosed when readings are 140/90 mmHg or higher.
Why is Hypertension called the “Silent Killer”?
Hypertension is called the “silent killer” because most people do not have any symptoms.
Many individuals feel completely normal while high blood pressure is already damaging their internal organs.
Over time, untreated hypertension can affect:
Heart
Brain
Kidneys
Eyes
Blood vessels
Most people only discover they have hypertension after a serious event such as a stroke or heart attack.
This is why regular screening is extremely important—even when you feel healthy.
How common is Hypertension in Malaysia?
Hypertension is very common in Malaysia due to lifestyle factors such as:
High salt diet (mamak food, processed food, fast food)
Lack of physical activity
Long working hours and stress
Overweight and obesity
Family history
Many Malaysians have hypertension without knowing it.
What happens if Hypertension is not controlled?
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to serious complications:
Brain
Stroke
Heart
Heart attack
Heart failure
Kidneys
Kidney damage or kidney failure
Eyes
Vision problems due to damaged blood vessels
These complications are often irreversible, which is why early detection is important.
Does Hypertension have symptoms?
Most of the time, hypertension has NO symptoms.
In severe cases, some people may experience:
Headaches
Dizziness
Chest discomfort
Blurred vision
Fatigue
However, these symptoms usually appear only when blood pressure is already dangerously high.
How do you know if you have Hypertension?
The only way to know is by measuring your blood pressure.
Methods include:
Clinic blood pressure check
Home blood pressure monitoring
Health screening packages
Symptoms alone are not reliable.
Who should check their blood pressure regularly?
You should check your blood pressure if you are:
30 years old and above
Overweight
Diabetic
Having high cholesterol
Having family history of hypertension
Under high stress lifestyle
Even younger adults are encouraged to check occasionally.
Final Message
Hypertension is common, silent, and dangerous—but it is also highly manageable when detected early.
Regular screening helps prevent serious complications before they happen.
Early detection saves lives.
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References
World Health Organization (WHO) – Hypertension Fact Sheet
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – High Blood Pressure
Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) – Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of Hypertension
Malaysian Society of Hypertension (MSH) – Hypertension Information
Harvard Health Publishing – Understanding Blood Pressure Readings
American Heart Association – High Blood Pressure
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