Oregon Certified Nursing Assistant State Practice Exam

What does hypertension refer to in medical terms?

1. High fever

2. High blood pressure

3. High pulse rate

4. Rapid heartbeat

The correct answer is: High blood pressure

Hypertension refers specifically to high blood pressure, a condition where the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high. This elevated pressure can lead to various health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney issues if left unmanaged. Understanding hypertension is crucial in the field of healthcare, especially for nursing assistants, as they play a significant role in monitoring patients' vital signs and recognizing changes in their health status. The other options do not accurately define hypertension: high fever refers to an elevated body temperature often due to infection or illness, high pulse rate is an increase in heartbeats per minute, and rapid heartbeat describes a fast heart rate but does not specifically relate to blood pressure. Thus, hypertension is distinctly identified as high blood pressure, highlighting its importance in patient care and management.