Hypertension, or high blood pressure, refers to blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg. It puts stress on blood vessels and vital organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys over time if not controlled. The document discusses what causes hypertension, risk factors, potential health effects, diagnosis through blood pressure monitoring, treatment through lifestyle modifications and medications, and treatment goals of lowering blood pressure to reduce risks of heart disease, stroke, and other complications. Treatment involves lifestyle changes like losing weight, reducing salt, exercising, and quitting smoking, as well as medications like diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs.