Causes and treatment of secondary hypertension

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Secondary hypertension or secondary high blood pressure is blood pressure that is caused by another medical condition.  Secondary hypertension can be triggered by certain health conditions that involve the kidneys, heart, arteries or the endocrine system and it can also happen during pregnancy. Adequate management of secondary hypertension can regulate both the original health issue and the elevated blood pressure and minimizes the risk of a serious complication like heart disease, kidney failure and stroke. If you want to learn more about the management of this type of hypertension, click here.

Symptoms of secondary hypertension

• An elevated blood pressure where the systolic reading is higher than 160 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or the diastolic reading is higher than 100 mm Hg
• A high blood pressure that does not respond to the medication for blood pressure or resistant hypertension.
• There is no family history of high blood pressure
• Medications that previously controlled a person’s blood pressure are not any more effective.
• A sudden onset of high blood pressure before reaching age 30 or after the age of 55 years old.
• There is no obesity

Causes of secondary hypertension

• A polycystic kidney disease which is an inherited condition where the cysts found in the kidney prevents the kidneys from working and can cause an increase in the blood pressure.
• Diabetic nephropathy can cause damage to the filtering system of the kidney and can cause elevated blood pressure.
• Renovascular hypertension which is a form of secondary hypertension triggered by stenosis which is the constriction of both the arteries that goes to the kidneys. Renovascular hypertension can instigate severe hypertension and permanent damage to the kidney.
• A glomerular disease where the kidneys filter the waste and sodium with the help of the microscopic-sized filters that are known as glomeruli and it can sometimes swell. If these glomeruli do not work normally, high blood pressure can develop.
• Aldosteronism is a condition where a tumor found in the adrenal gland. An increased growth of normal cells in the adrenal gland will cause the adrenal gland to release plenty of the hormone aldosterone and makes the kidney retain salt and water and will lose plenty of potassium and it can raise the blood pressure.
• A pheochromocytoma which is a rare tumor found in the adrenal gland which causes an increased production of the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline which can result to long term high blood pressure.
• When the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient thyroid hormone which is hypothyroidism or produces plenty of thyroid hormone which is hyperthyroidism, this can result to high blood pressure.

Treatment and home remedies

• Eat healthy food especially a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium which is found in potatoes, spinach, bananas and apricots.
• Minimize consumption of salts in the diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight in order to help lower the blood pressure level.
• Have at least 30 minutes of physical activity regularly like doing some exercises.
• Minimize drinking alcoholic drinks and smoking.
• Avoid getting stressed and get plenty of sleep.