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Causes of Primary Hypertension

Even though primary hypertension by definition does not have an identifiable cause there are several factors that can increase the susceptibility to primary hypertension such as

• A sedentary lifestyle
• A body mass index of more than 25 (it has been observed that 85% of the patients who suffer from primary hypertension have a body mass index greater than 25)
• Sensitivity to salt (sodium)
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Deficiency of Vitamin D
• It can also be attributed to aging
• Genetic factors and mutation
• An overactive sympathetic nervous system
• Low birth weight has also been pointed out as a possible factor

Causes of Secondary Hypertension:

The causes of secondary hypertension include:

• Kidney ailments: Several diseases of the kidney are known to cause secondary hypertension; the most common among them is polycystic kidney disease, a cystic genetic ailment of the kidneys. The disorder is characterized by the formation of cysts on both kidneys. The ailment can also damage other vital organs like the liver and pancreas. There have also been cases where the brain or the heart of the patient was affected by PKD. High blood pressure can also be caused due to renal artery related diseases. Apart from these two disorders; neuroendocrine tumors are also known to cause secondary high blood pressure
• Certain Drugs: Certain drugs like NSAID’s like ibuprofen and steroids can lead to hypertension. You may also experience secondary hypertension if you go off antihypertensive medication suddenly; this condition is known as Rebound Hypertension. This condition may also result in a hypertensive emergency because the blood pressure shoots up higher than the initial level once the medication is discontinued abruptly. However, this condition can be avoided by gradually going off hypertensive medication as you reduce the doses so that the body can get enough time to adjust to the reduced dosage.
• Pregnancy: Pregnancy may also lead to high blood pressure in women of child bearing age.
• Inadequate sleep: Another common issue that leads to hypertension is sleep apnea. This condition can be treated through tonsillectomy, nasal continuous positive airway pressure or one of the several other treatment recourse.