Hypertension Causes: An Introduction
In most people, the causes of
hypertension (also known as
high blood pressure) are not known. This type of high
blood pressure is called primary, or essential, hypertension. In some people, the cause of hypertension is the result of another medical problem or medicine. When the causes of hypertension are known, the condition is referred to as secondary hypertension.
If a person is diagnosed with hypertension, it doesn't mean that he or she is "too nervous," overanxious, or obsessive. High blood pressure is not nervous tension. In fact, many people who are perfectly calm have high blood pressure.
Primary Hypertension Causes
In 9 out of 10 people, there is no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. This is called "primary hypertension" or "essential hypertension." Most people with primary hypertension don't even realize that they have it; the majority of people with hypertension feel no different from those who have
normal blood pressure. That's why hypertension is often referred to as "the silent killer."
Secondary Hypertension Causes
In just 1 out of 10 people, the cause of high blood pressure is known.
This is called secondary hypertension. Some conditions that are secondary hypertension causes include:
- Pheochromocytoma (a tumor of the adrenal gland)
- Cushing's syndrome (a hormonal disorder)
- Aldosteronism (a condition in which adrenal glands produce too much of the hormone aldosterone)
- Hypothyroidism (the thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones)
- Hyperthyroidism (the thyroid produces an excess of hormones)
- Coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of the aorta)
- Hyperparathyroidism (excessive production of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid glands)
- Acromegaly (a metabolic disorder caused by too much growth hormone)
- Preeclampsia
- Kidney disease (such as polycystic kidney disease or glomerulonephritis)
- Sleep apnea
- Certain medicines, such as birth control pills.
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