Causes of Hypertension

There are generally two Hypertension causes, primary and secondary:

1. Primary/Essential hypertension is the most common type of hypertension when high blood pressure does not have an identifiable cause. There is no underlying disease which is leading to Hypertension. Hence in such cases risk factors need to be looked into which have triggered high blood pressure.

2. Secondary hypertension: In secondary hypertension, high blood pressure is generally due to an underlying health condition such as kidney disease, adrenal gland tumour, hyperthyroidism or hyperparathyroidism, pregnancy, sleep apnea, congenital disabilities in blood vessels, consumption of cocaine and amphetamines.

Risk Factors Associated With Hypertension

There are generally two Hypertension causes, primary and secondary:

1. Modifiable risk factors: are those which can be changed and it includes unhealthy and unbalanced diets (high salt consumption, consumption of highly saturated fats, reduced consumption of potassium), high-stress levels, physical inactivity, tobacco, drugs, alcohol consumption, obesity and co-existing diseases such as diabetes and kidney disease.

Causes of Hypertension

There are generally two Hypertension causes, primary and secondary:

1. Primary/Essential hypertension is the most common type of hypertension when high blood pressure does not have an identifiable cause. There is no underlying disease which is leading to Hypertension. Hence in such cases risk factors need to be looked into which have triggered high blood pressure.

2. Secondary hypertension: In secondary hypertension, high blood pressure is generally due to an underlying health condition such as kidney disease, adrenal gland tumour, hyperthyroidism or hyperparathyroidism, pregnancy, sleep apnea, congenital disabilities in blood vessels, consumption of cocaine and amphetamines.

Risk Factors Associated With Hypertension

High blood pressure has two types of risk factors:

2. Non-modifiable risk factors: are those which cannot be altered such as a family history of hypertension, an age of 65 years or over, race (people with African heritage have a higher risk of hypertension) and pregnancy.

Diagnosis of Hypertension

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and do a physical examination. The doctor, nurse or the medical assistant will put an inflatable arm cuff around your arm and compute the blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge.

Your blood pressure should be measured in both arms to determine if there is a difference. It's essential to use a suitable-sized arm cuff. Both numbers in a blood pressure reading are essential. But after age 50, the systolic reading is even more essential. Isolated systolic hypertension is a condition in which the diastolic pressure is normal(less than 80 mm Hg) but systolic pressure is high (greater than or equal to 130 mm Hg). This is an ordinary type of high blood pressure among people older than 65.

Because blood pressure usually varies during the day and may increase during a doctor visit (white coat hypertension), your doctorwill likely take several blood pressure readings at three or more separate appointments before diagnosing you with high blood pressure. Even though hypertension can be diagnosed on the basis of blood pressure reading, lab tests may be required.

Lab tests can be suggested for following reasons:

• To screen for and diagnose high blood pressure 
• To find out whether the cause is an primary medical situation that can possibly be resolved or controlled 
• To assess the condition of body organs, such as the kidneys, and get a baseline of organ health before the start of drug therapies 
• To monitor hypertension control and organ status over time 
• To prevent or detect early the complications induced due to hypertension 

Diagnosis of Hypertension

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and do a physical examination. The doctor, nurse or the medical assistant will put an inflatable arm cuff around your arm and compute the blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge.

Your blood pressure should be measured in both arms to determine if there is a difference. It's essential to use a suitable-sized arm cuff. Both numbers in a blood pressure reading are essential. But after age 50, the systolic reading is even more essential. Isolated systolic hypertension is a condition in which the diastolic pressure is normal(less than 80 mm Hg) but systolic pressure is high (greater than or equal to 130 mm Hg). This is an ordinary type of high blood pressure among people older than 65.

Because blood pressure usually varies during the day and may increase during a doctor visit (white coat hypertension), your doctorwill likely take several blood pressure readings at three or more separate appointments before diagnosing you with high blood pressure. Even though hypertension can be diagnosed on the basis of blood pressure reading, lab tests may be required.

Lab tests can be suggested for following reasons:

• To screen for and diagnose high blood pressur.
• To find out whether the cause is an primary medical situation that can possibly be resolved or controlled
• To assess the condition of body organs, such as the kidneys, and get a baseline of organ health before the start of drug therapies.
• To monitor hypertension control and organ status over time
• To prevent or detect early the complications induced due to hypertension