How to Pronounce Secondary Hypertension
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Secondary Hypertension Pronunciation
SEK-un-dair-ee hy-per-TEN-shun
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
SEK
stress here
un
dair
ee hy
per
TEN
stress here
shun
7 syllables
What is Secondary Hypertension?
High blood pressure caused by an identifiable underlying condition, as opposed to primary (essential) hypertension, with endocrine causes such as primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, and Cushing's syndrome being among the most important. Identifying a secondary cause can allow for potentially curative treatment.
Questions About Secondary Hypertension
How do you pronounce 'secondary hypertension'?
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Say it like this: SEK-un-dair-ee hy-per-TEN-shun. The stress falls on the first syllable of 'secondary' (SEK) and on the second syllable of 'hypertension' (TEN). Think of it as 'SEK-un-dair-ee' followed by 'hy-per-TEN-shun.'
What does 'secondary' mean in this medical term?
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'Secondary' means something that comes second or is caused by something else. In this case, it refers to high blood pressure that results from another underlying condition, rather than occurring on its own.
What does 'hypertension' mean?
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'Hypertension' is the medical word for high blood pressure. It comes from 'hyper-' meaning 'too much' and '-tension' meaning 'pressure,' so together it literally means 'too much pressure.'
What's a common mispronunciation of this term?
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Many people stress the wrong syllable and say 'sec-un-DAIR-ee' instead of 'SEK-un-dair-ee.' Remember: the emphasis goes on the very first syllable, not the middle of the word.
How many syllables does 'secondary hypertension' have?
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'Secondary' breaks into 4 syllables: sec-un-dar-y. 'Hypertension' breaks into 4 syllables: hy-per-ten-sion. Together, the full term has 8 syllables.
What related words share the same 'hyper-' root?
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Other medical words with 'hyper-' include 'hyperglycemia' (too much blood sugar) and 'hyperthyroidism' (overactive thyroid). The prefix 'hyper-' always means 'excessive' or 'too much.'
Can you use 'secondary hypertension' in a simple sentence?
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Here's an example: 'The doctor explained that this patient's high blood pressure is secondary hypertension because it's caused by an underlying gland problem.' This shows how the term is used to describe a specific type of high blood pressure.
What's the opposite of secondary hypertension?
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The opposite is 'primary hypertension' (also called 'essential hypertension'), which is high blood pressure that develops on its own without a clear underlying cause. Understanding the difference helps you grasp why doctors look for the 'secondary' cause.