Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. It is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), besides increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Hypertension can also lead to other conditions such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. What is Hypertension? Hypertension or high blood pressure (HBP) is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of the body in the vessels. Each time the heartbeats, it pumps blood into the vessels. Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. Hypertension is disclosed as the "silent killer" for its absence of symptoms detected by the afflicted person. The condition m