What is the medical term for high blood pressure?

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure, which refers to the condition where the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high. This condition can lead to serious health complications if not managed properly, including heart disease and stroke.

Understanding why hypertension is the correct term involves recognizing the prefix "hyper-" which means 'high' or 'excessive' and "-tension" referring to the pressure within the arteries. This combination clearly indicates the condition of elevated blood pressure.

In contrast, the other terms describe different conditions. Hypotension signifies low blood pressure, cardiomyopathy pertains to diseases of the heart muscle that affect its function, and arrhythmia relates to irregular heartbeats. Each of these terms has its distinct meaning and does not convey the idea of elevated blood pressure.