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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–3Cite as

Hypertension

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Synonyms

High blood pressure; Hyperpiesia

Definition

A medical condition in which arterial blood pressure remains abnormally elevated, classically >140/90 mmHg.

Introduction

The development of a maladaptive health disorder may seem counterintuitive to the evolution and fitness of a species; however, pathologies such as hypertension are the result of a biological response to inadequate environments that may have been in favor of survival for previous generations.

Blood Pressure

All organ systems within the body receive energy and oxygen via blood transportation; in larger animals and humans, this transportation requires a significant vascular system to deliver these nutrients to the furthest organs and tissues (Weder 2007). The strength of the blood pressing against arterial walls is defined as blood pressure, and this pressure rises and falls with the heart’s synchronous pumping as it is forced through the cardiovascular system. Blood pressure is measured at its maximum, during...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada

    Christine Lalonde

Authors
  1. Christine Lalonde
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christine Lalonde .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, MI, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada

    Steven Arnocky

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Lalonde, C. (2018). Hypertension. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_731-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_731-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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