| Common Name | hypertension (in some cases) |
| Scientific Name | Essential hypertension (secondary causes may include herbal or botanical interactions) |
| Disease Type | Cardiovascular disorder |
| Host Type | human; human |
| ICD Code | I10 |
| Distribution | Worldwide; higher prevalence in Western populations, increasing globally with lifestyle changes. |
| Causative Agent | Multifactorial: genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors, endothelial dysfunction; in some cases linked to excessive licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) intake causing pseudoaldosteronism |
| Transmission | Not transmissible |
| Symptoms Description | Often asymptomatic; may include headaches, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, dizziness, or visual disturbances in severe cases. In herbal contexts, may relate to qi stagnation or liver yang rising patterns in TCM. |
| Diagnosis | Blood pressure measurement >130/80 mmHg on multiple occasions; ambulatory monitoring; rule out secondary causes. In integrative practice: tongue and pulse diagnosis (TCM), dosha assessment (Ayurveda). |
| Conventional Treatment | Lifestyle modification; ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics; management of underlying conditions. |
| Herbal Treatment | Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) berry/leaf/flower for cardiovascular support; Garlic (Allium sativum); Olive leaf (Olea europaea); Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) tea; in TCM: herbs to calm liver yang such as Gastrodia (Tian Ma), Uncaria (Gou Teng); in Ayurveda: Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for stress-related cases. Avoid licorice in excess. |
| Prevention | Healthy diet (DASH, low sodium), regular exercise, weight management, stress reduction (meditation, yoga), limited alcohol and smoking cessation. In traditional systems: balancing diet per dosha or TCM principles, regular qi gong or yoga. |
| Prognosis | Generally manageable with lifestyle and treatment; untreated can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney damage. Excellent prognosis with integrative approaches addressing root causes. |
| History | Recognized in ancient medical systems: described in TCM as 'liver wind' or yang rising; in Ayurveda as related to rakta dhatu imbalance. Modern understanding evolved in 19th-20th century with sphygmomanometer development. Herbal traditions have long used blood pressure modulating plants across cultures. |
| Reference | Braunwald's Heart Disease; WHO guidelines on hypertension; Hoffman D. Medical Herbalism; Tierra M. Planetary Herbology; Bensky D. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica; PubMed reviews on hawthorn, hibiscus for hypertension. |
| URL | https://forager.com/ENCY/Disease/hypertension |
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