Do You Know the Cause?
The term secondary hypertension is used to describe high blood pressure that has a known cause. Nearly ten percent of people who have hypertension know what is causing it and once that condition is treated, their high blood pressure will return to normal. Would you like to know what causes high blood pressure? Tumors or any other type of disease of the adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys, will cause your blood pressure to go up. Chronic kidney disease, pregnancy, birth control pills, an addiction to alcohol or a dysfunction of your thyroid. If you were born with coarctation of the aorta, then you have a narrowing of the aorta and that will give you high blood pressure in your arms only.
For the other ninety percent of cases of hypertension, the actual cause is unknown. Although a specific cause is unknown, there are various factors that contribute to this condition. Doctors tell us that as you get older, there is a better chance of you developing hypertension. This is due to the hardening of your arteries and this condition is called atherosclerosis. Your race can also be a factor as more African Americans then whites seem to develop this disease. It is also seen that those residents of southeastern United States, the lower socioeconomic groups, are more likely to have hypertension. Your family history can play a part in the chance that you have high blood pressure and your gender too will come into play. Men are typically more prone to develop high blood pressure than women but that also depends on ethnic groups and your age.
If you are over weight, this too can cause high blood pressure and so the medical professionals advise their patients to lose weight. It has been seen that some women who are taking birth control pills can have high blood pressure and those who drink more than two drinks each day can be on the path to hypertension also. Those who are over weight and carry their weight around their middle are more prone to hypertension than those whose extra weight is carried on their hips and thighs. It is the obese patients that have a two to six time higher rate of developing high blood pressure than those who have a healthy weight. Your doctor can tell you more about what causes high blood pressure. There are even diet pills and allergy medications that can cause your blood pressure to rise.
