<prompt> Answer this question truthfullyWhat does chronic hypertension mean?  <response>: <reason> Hypertension is considered an epidemic worldwide. It continues to be one of the most common diseases. In October 2013, CDC data from the 2011-2012 National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey NHANES demonstrated that the overall age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension among U.S. adults aged 18 and older was 29.1. Similar surveys conducted in Europe estimated the prevalence of hypertension to be 44. The prevalence of hypertension increases among older patients and among non-Hispanic black patients, but is similar in both genders. 