I understand your concern because your husband is very young and has hypertension. Systolic/diastolic blood pressure levels (above 140 mmHg for systolic and 90 mmHg for diastolic) are taken as arterial hypertension (HTA). It is impossible to correctly diagnose HTA with only one measurement. Blood pressure should be measured each day for at least one week for proper diagnosis. If the pressure is always above the normal, accepted levels I mentioned, the diagnosis for HTA is established.
According to its etiology HTA is classified in two categories:
1. Essential (primary, idiopathic)
2. Non-essential (secondary, symptomatic)
Essential HTA is termend "cause unknown" and is present in about 95% of all cases. It is believed that this type of HTA is genetically conditioned. Some conditions (overweight, old age) and life-style (smoking, alcohol, consumption of fatty food, no physical activity…) are risk factors for developing this kind of HTA.
Non-essential HTA is present in about 5% of all cases and it is a symptom of other diseases (renal vascular disorders, hyperaldosteronism, feochromocytoma…).
In your husband’s case, HTA is probably genetically conditioned (essential HTA) because the disease is present in his family. Therapy for essential HTA is a life-lasting. Putting HTA under control is very important because HTA can damage the kidneys, heart, brain, blood vessels, eyes… Ramipril is an ACE-inhibitor. ACE-inhibitors are one of the most commonly used drugs for HTA treatment. Their most significant side effect is a cough (in 10% of patients).