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The medical term “secondary high blood pressure” is used to describe conditions where hypertension (high blood pressure) is caused by another disease, medical condition or outside influence such as medication. The defining word here is “secondary,” indicating that the normal causes of hypertension are not the main cause (though they still may be present).
When a doctor suspects secondary high blood pressure may be the cause for hypertension, he or she will often order other tests ran which will help to determine what the underlying causes are if they aren’t already known. In addition to these tests, a doctor will inquire as to any medicines the patient may be taking as some medications are known to include hypertension as a side effect.
By treating the underlying cause(s) of secondary high blood pressure, most hypertension will be relieved.
Because of the nature of secondary high blood pressure, the direct causes are numerous. It is impossible to pinpoint one, two or even twenty causes of the condition because there are far too many reasons, combinations and variables out there to narrow it down.
With that said, here are some of the most common causes of secondary high blood pressure:
Because hypertension can only be diagnosed properly by a physician, when a person visits their doctor, their blood pressure is typically taken. If the blood pressure reading is high, a doctor may suspect secondary high blood pressure as the diagnosis if:
There has been an increase in blood pressure since their last visit
The only way to treat secondary high blood pressure is by treating and/or curing the underlying cause. By addressing the primary cause of hypertension, blood pressure levels are expected to return to normal. The treatment of the primary cause will be determined by the ailment, disease or condition which is causing the secondary high blood pressure.
In some cases, the secondary high blood pressure will not be treated as quickly as possible because it would be detrimental to the treatment of the underlying cause. For example, a patient whose hypertension is caused by a medication may be allowed to remain with high blood pressure if the benefits of the medicine far outweigh the risks brought about by the hypertension.
In other cases, even after treating the underlying cause for the hypertension, blood pressure levels will remain elevated. When this happens, it becomes necessary for the hypertension to be treated as a completely separate condition and is no longer known as secondary high blood pressure. Standard hypertension lifestyle changes, exercises and medications may then be recommended by a physician.
High Blood Pressure Causes 62% of all Strokes and 49% of all Heart Attacks... Check your BP on the blood pressure chart. If the chart shows you are in the prehypertension or hypertension ranges, do something about it, even if it is just having a chat with your doctor. The blood pressure chart is for all adults regardless of age, as whilst your age rises, the thresholds for prehypertension and hypertension don't! (there is no blood pressure chart by age!) No matter what your age - if your BP is above 140/90 you should set about lowering it. You can record and monitor your readings on our printable blood pressure log.