Hypertension
Shelley J. Wilson
HS200, Section 2
Unit 4 Capstone Project: Case Study #3 Hypertension
Kaplan University
14 October, 2014

Hypertension
Hypertension is commonly known to many people as high blood pressure. Hypertension is a condition in which the arteries in the body have elevated blood pressure. When heart beats, it will pump blood throughout the body your body from your arteries. The blood pressure stems from the force of blood that pushes against the blood vessel walls. When an individual has elevated blood pressure, the harder the heart has to work to pump blood.
The normal range for blood pressure is below 120/80. “The 120 in the blood pressure represents the systolic measurement, or the peak pressure in the …show more content…
There needs to be enough pressure generated throughout the body. “As the blood travels further from the heart, they branch off and gradually decrease in size, like branches from a tree” (Briones, 2014). These branches will travel to all parts of the body such as the brain, muscles, and our organs. The blood pressure is what keeps the blood moving through those branches so the cells in the body can get the oxygen and nutrients they need (Briones, 2014).
As the heart contracts, pressure build up in the blood vessels will increase as the blood passes through. When the heart relaxes, the pressure decreases. It is essential to have health elastic blood vessels that will stretch and recoil as it responds as the pressure increases and decreases. Without these health elastic blood vessels, the blood will not be able to reach vital organs. Individuals “who suffer from hypertension, their small blood vessels in vital organs are most often affected over time (Briones, 2014). The blood vessels in those who have hypertension become scarred, harden and inelastic. The vessels are more likely to get blocked, which could lead to organ damage if the pressure is not