Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels constantly experience increased pressure. Blood is transferred through blood vessels from the heart to all other parts of the body. With each contraction, the heart pumps blood into the vessels. Blood pressure is created by the force of blood pumped by the heart, acting on the walls of blood vessels. The higher the pressure, the harder it is for the heart to pump blood.

Most people with hypertension do not show any symptoms, so it is called a "silent killer". Sometimes hypertension causes symptoms such as headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, palpitations and nosebleeds, but this does not always happen.