What it means
Long-standing hypertensionhy-per-TEN-shunBlood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.hyper- above, more than normaltension pressureFull entry . In pregnancy care the term has a set meaning: high blood pressure present before the pregnancy, found before 20 weeks of gestation, or still present more than 12 weeks after the birth. It is kept apart from gestational hypertension, which starts after 20 weeks, and from preeclampsia, which can develop on top of it.
For the nurse
Check the blood pressure at every visit with the right cuff size, and teach a pregnant client to report headache, vision changes or swelling of the face and hands.
At a glance
| Also written | chronic hypertensive |
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Related terms
hypertension
Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
blood pressure
The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries, written as systolic over diastolic in mm Hg.