Causes, incidence, and risk factors of Hypertension

Many factors can affect blood pressure, including:
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How much water and salt you have in your body

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The condition of your kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels

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The levels of different body hormones


You are more likely to be told your blood pressure is too high as you get older. This is because your blood vessels become stiffer as you age. When that happens, your blood pressure goes up. High blood pressure increases your chance of having a stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, and early death.

You have a higher risk of high blood pressure if you:
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Are African American

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Are obese

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Are often stressed or anxious

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Drink too much alcohol (more than one drink per day for women and more than two drinks per day for men)

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Eat too much salt in your diet

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Have a family history of high blood pressure

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Have diabetes

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Smoke


Most of the time, no cause of high blood pressure is found. This is called essential hypertension.

High blood pressure that is caused by another medical condition or medication is called secondary hypertension. Secondary hypertension may be due to:
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Chronic kidney disease

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Disorders of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma or Cushing syndrome)

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Pregnancy (see: preeclampsia)

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Medications such as birth control pills, diet pills, some cold medications, and migraine medications

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Narrowed artery that supplies blood to the kidney (renal artery stenosis)

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Hyperparathyroidism



Symptoms

Most of the time, there are no symptoms. For most patients, high blood pressure is found when they visit their health care provider or have it checked elsewhere.

Because there are no symptoms, people can develop heart disease and kidney problems without knowing they have high blood pressure.

If you have a severe headache, nausea or vomiting, bad headache, confusion, changes in your vision, or nosebleeds you may have a severe and dangerous form of high blood pressure called malignant hypertension.


Signs and tests

Your health care provider will check your blood pressure several times before diagnosing you with high blood pressure. It is normal for your blood pressure to be different depending on the time of day.

Blood pressure readings taken at home may be a better measure of your current blood pressure than those taken at your doctor's office. Make sure you get a good quality, well-fitting home device. It should have the proper sized cuff and a digital readout.

Practice with your health care provider or nurse to make sure you are taking your blood pressure correctly. See also: Blood pressure monitors for home

Your doctor will perform a physical exam to look for signs of heart disease, damage to the eyes, and other changes in your body.

Tests may be done to look for:
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High cholesterol levels

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Heart disease, such as an echocardiogram or electrocardiogram

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Kidney disease, such as a basic metabolic panel and urinalysis or ultrasound of the kidneys