The causes of secondary hypertension come from your body already having an underlying disease. This form of high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition. If you realize that your blood pressure is increasing, you should take preventative measures immediately. One way to control your blood pressure is to monitor your systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In this article, we're going to cover high blood pressure, secondary hypertension, and resistant hypertension. You'll learn about the risk factors to which you may be susceptible and how to prevent secondary hypertension.
What is Secondary Hypertension?
Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure that's caused by another condition or disease. It's not the most common type of high blood pressure, but it can be more serious. If you have secondary hypertension, it's important to treat your high blood pressure and the underlying condition.
Many different conditions can cause secondary hypertension. Some of the more common ones include:
- kidney disease
- sleep apnea
- autoimmune disorders
- endocrine disorders
- use of certain medications
- pregnancy
Pregnancy-induced hypertension occurs when blood pressure is higher than 140/90mm Hg without any other organ damage after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Is it Common?
Secondary hypertension is much less common than primary hypertension. It can be caused by renal artery stenosis, sleep apnea, coarctation of the aorta, pregnancy, endocrine disorders such as Cushing's syndrome, and certain medications such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers, and some prescription drugs.
This is why one of the best ways to control blood pressure is with lifestyle changes. Make sure you are working with your doctor to avoid medications that raise blood pressure and start changing your lifestyle focusing on healthy diet and exercise. A healthy lifestyle routine is the best route to a healthy life.
Secondary Arterial Hypertension.
In the same vein as secondary hypertension, secondary arterial hypertension is linked to your cardiovascular health. If you have a history of heart failure, secondary hypertension will add stress to your body if you do not take steps to prevent disease. Your renal arteries may be impacted as a result, your blood flow may decrease, and could worsen already severe hypertension. This is another reason why blood pressure control is extremely important.
If you have hypertension, adequate blood pressure control is important so try to optimize your routine. A healthier lifestyle will help you control your high blood pressure.
What are the Causes of Secondary Hypertension?
As stated before, secondary hypertension is caused by another existing disease or condition in your body. In other words, your blood pressure is elevated because of another cause. Below we've listed some of the diseases that cause secondary hypertension.
The main causes of secondary hypertension are:
- renal parenchymal disease
This disease is the most common cause of secondary hypertension and includes conditions such as glomerulonephritis and polycystic kidney disease. These diseases can lead to high blood pressure causing damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys, which makes it difficult for them to filter blood properly.
- renovascular disease
This disease occurs when there is a narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. This can cause high blood pressure by making it difficult for the kidneys to filter blood properly.
- endocrine disorders
Disorders such as Cushing's syndrome and pheochromocytoma can cause high blood pressure by affecting the hormones that regulate blood pressure.
- obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when people stop breathing for short periods during sleep. This can lead to high blood pressure, causing stress on the heart and lungs.
- primary hyperaldosteronism
This is a condition in which the adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone hormone. This hormone helps to regulate blood pressure and can cause high blood pressure if levels are too high.
The Symptoms you can Expect.
Symptoms of high blood pressure include headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and a racing heartbeat. There are two types of high blood pressure: primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension is the most common type and occurs when there's no underlying medical condition causing high blood pressure. Secondary hypertension happens when another medical condition causes high blood pressure. It's often difficult to determine the exact cause of secondary hypertension, but it's often due to kidney, arteries, or heart problems.
Many symptoms are associated with high blood pressure, but it is often called the "silent killer" because there are usually no symptoms in the early stages. People may experience headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, or nosebleeds as blood pressure increases.
What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when there is increased force of blood against your artery walls. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 mmHg. If your top number is greater than 120 and your bottom number is greater than 80, you have elevated blood pressure. High blood pressure means your heart must work harder to pump blood to the rest of your body. This extra work can increase your heart rate and cause damage to your arteries. Over time, high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and memory problems. There are often no symptoms of high blood pressure, so it is important to check your blood pressure regularly. If you have high blood pressure, there are things you can do to lower it and stay healthy. Exercise, eating a healthy diet, managing stress, and avoiding tobacco products can all help to lower blood pressure.
Regarding blood pressure readings, there are two numbers to pay attention to.
Systolic blood pressure.
The top number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the force your blood exerts on artery walls when your heart beats.
Diastolic blood pressure.
The bottom number, the diastolic blood pressure, represents the force when your heart rests between beats.
A normal blood pressure reading would be 120/80 mmHg or lower; anything above that is considered high blood pressure.
How Secondary Hypertension can be Prevented.
There are a few different ways to manage high blood pressure through lifestyle changes. One way is by eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting sodium intake. Another is maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise and managing stress levels.
You can make some lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of developing secondary hypertension.
Cutting back on salt is one way to help lower blood pressure. Too much salt can cause fluid retention, leading to high blood pressure. Limiting your intake of processed foods and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables can also help reduce your sodium intake.
Exercise is another important factor in preventing secondary hypertension. Regular physical activity helps keep your blood vessels healthy and lowers blood pressure. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, try incorporating 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity into your daily routine.
Finally, managing stress is essential for preventing secondary hypertension. Stress can cause your blood pressure to rise, so it’s important to find healthy ways to cope with stress. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are all great ways to manage stress and lower blood pressure.
These lifestyle changes can help prevent secondary hypertension and improve your overall health.
Please note any treatment approaches mentioned are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Index Health Can Help You.
Index Health sees each patient as a whole person who deserves a support system and a treatment plan that now addresses the root problem and prevents further issues.
Functional medicine gets to the root cause of your condition using advanced lab tests, data, and specialist physicians, rather than just treating the symptom.
Personalized functional medicine plans are 100% unique and tailored to your body and needs! Plans primarily include nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Get ongoing support from your dedicated functional medicine staff and Advanced Primary Care, retesting, follow-up appointments, therapy, and more.
Key Takeaways About High Blood Pressure.
Now that you know a little bit more about high blood pressure and secondary hypertension, you've gathered that there are a plethora of causes. They can increase blood pressure without obvious signs and have a lot of associated risk factors as well. Some common causes of secondary hypertension include autoimmune disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and kidney disease. Treat secondary hypertension with proper care of your body. Many patients seek medical therapy and use holistic means to effectively manage the diseases in their bodies. These preventative measures can go a long way in turning your life around. Monitor your high blood pressure, eat healthily, and exercise and you will start to see the difference in your body.
