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High Blood Pressure

Causes of High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

  • Essential Hypertension means high blood pressure of unknown cause. Most people have this type, especially the elderly.
  • Secondary Hypertension means high blood pressure due to another health problem. Treatment of the health problem, or avoiding meds or toxins that are the cause, will help reduce blood pressure. Examples are:
    • Kidney diseases, hormone problems and pregnancy
    • Narrowing of the aorta (the main blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart)
    • Some meds and toxins: alcohol, cocaine, caffeine, amphetamines, birth control pills, antidepressants, some decongestants, and herbal remedies.
  • Hypertensive Crisis (serious). There are two types of crises:
    • Hypertensive urgency: systolic pressure of 180 mm Hg or higher and a diastolic of 120 mm Hg or higher. Treatment should aim to reduce blood pressure over a few days.
    • Accelerated Hypertension: systolic pressure higher than 200 mm Hg and diastolic higher than 130 mm Hg and damage to other organs (brain, kidneys, heart and lungs). This is an emergency and needs same day treatment to reduce the blood pressure quickly to prevent death.
  • Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor of the adrenal glands, which are just above the kidneys. They make the hormones that control heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism. A tumor in the gland can make it release too much of the hormones and cause blood pressure to rise. There may also be sweating, palpitations, headaches, shaking and vomiting. Most people will need surgery to remove the tumor.
  • Hypertension in Pregnancy (serious) affects about 15% of pregnant women. These women have a higher risk of more health problems, stroke, clotting disorders, reduced growth of the baby and even death of the unborn baby. Treatment depends on the stage of pregnancy and how high the blood pressure is. Close monitoring is needed for the rest of the pregnancy and for several days after delivery.
    • Pre-existing Hypertension will have been present before the pregnancy or detected before 20 weeks.
    • Gestational Hypertension is caused by the pregnancy and starts after 20 weeks. It may calm down quickly or stay for the rest of the pregnancy. Untreated, pre-eclampsia or eclampsia may develop.
    • In pre-eclampsia, there is pregnancy-caused hypertension, swelling and/or protein in the mother's urine. Symptoms include severe headache, blurred vision or flashes before the eyes, severe upper abdomen pain, vomiting and sudden swelling of the hands and face.
    • Eclampsia can follow pre-eclampsia and seizures occur. This can be life-threatening for both mother and baby.
  • White Coat Hypertension is a term used for people who have normal blood pressure at home but higher blood pressure when measured by their doctor. Your doctor may have you wear a meter to check your blood pressure while at work, at home and while you sleep. Unneeded treatment may then be avoided.