Hypertension

Definition:
persistently high arterial blood pressure; it may have no known cause (essential, idiopathic, orprimary
h.) or may be associated with other diseases dorlands
Classification
Based on JNC7 for adults 18 years and older:

Normal : systolic lower than 120mmHg, diastolic lower than 80mmHg

Prehypertension : systolic 120-139 mmHg, diastolic 80-89 mmHg
Stage 1 : systolic 140-159 mmHg, diastolic 90-99 mmHg
Stage 2 : systolic 160 mmHg or grater, diastolic 100 mmHg or greater

Based on another perspective :

Primary : diagnosed in the absence of an identifiable secondary cause

Secondary : diagnosed because there is another disease

Mechanism
The pathogenesis is multifactorial and highly complex. The factors include
humoral mediators, vascular reactivity, blood volume, caliber, blood viscosity,
cardiac output, vessel elasticity and neural stimulation. A possible pathogenesis
include genetic, salt intake, adrenergic tone.
Another mechanism is increased salt and water reabsorption (salt sensitivity)
by the kidney , which increases circulating blood volume.