Abnormally high blood pressure is known as __________.

Abnormally high blood pressure is referred to as hypertension. This condition is characterized by consistently elevated blood pressure readings, typically defined as having a systolic pressure of 130 mmHg or higher, or a diastolic pressure of 80 mmHg or higher. Hypertension is a significant health concern because it can lead to serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.

Understanding the various terms related to blood pressure is essential in differentiating between normal and abnormal readings. Hypotension, for example, indicates low blood pressure, while normotension refers to normal blood pressure levels within the healthy range. Prehypertension is a term that describes blood pressure that is elevated but not yet high enough to be classified as hypertension, often serving as a warning sign to initiate lifestyle changes to prevent the progression to hypertension. Therefore, hypertension is the correct term to denote abnormally high blood pressure.