What Are the Causes of Essential Hypertension?

Essential hypertension is high blood pressure that is not caused by another condition. Hypertension resulting from another health condition, such as chronic kidney disease, is called secondary hypertension. Whereas secondary hypertension is treated primarily by treating the underlying condition, essential hypertension must be treated directly through lifestyle changes and possibly medication.

What is Hypertension

• Your blood pressure reading is a measure of the force your heart is using to pump blood through your arteries. The reading consists of 2 numbers: systolic pressure (the first number) is the pressure of the blood while the heart is beating and diastolic pressure (the second number) is the force of the blood while the heart is resting between beats. The normal range for blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg or less. Hypertension is diagnosed when pressure is 140/90 mmHg or above. Only one of the readings needs to fall in the hypertension range for high blood pressure to be diagnosed. Blood pressure between the normal and high ranges (121 to 139 mmHg for systolic and 81 to 89 mmHg for diastolic pressure) is considered prehypertension.

What Causes Essential Hypertension

• Hypertension has many causes, some of which are controllable and some which are not. Among the controllable causes, obesity (body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2) is the most prevalent. Along with obesity, physical inactivity increases your risk for hypertension. Excess sodium stimulates water retention, leading to hypertension. Remember it is not only added salt that can be harmful but also the hidden salt in processed foods and snacks. Drinking more than 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks per day is another contributor to hypertension. Medication such as oral contraceptives, diet pills and cold and allergy medications also raise blood pressure.

Additional Causes of Hypertension

• As you age, your risk of hypertension increases. African Americans have a higher risk of developing hypertension and they develop it at a younger age than Caucasians. African Americans also tend to have more complications related to hypertension compared with people of other races. Heredity also plays an important role. A family history of hypertension will raise your risk. Lack of education and low socioeconomic status also contribute to the risk of high blood pressure.

Consequences of Hypertension

• Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to serious organ damage. High blood pressure causes a strain on the heart and can lead to congestive heart failure and stroke, and long term hypertension can damage the kidneys. Regular check-ups are important because hypertension has no signs or symptoms.

Prevention and Treatment

• Exercise regularly and eat healthier to lose weight, but do not begin a new exercise regimen before checking with your doctor. Cut down on your salt intake and eliminate processed foods from your diet. Taper your alcohol use down to no more than 2 drinks daily. Stop smoking. Although smoking does not directly cause hypertension, it is related to heart disease, stroke and injury to blood vessels. Look closely at the medications you take regularly and eliminate nonessential drugs that may be contributing to your hypertension. If lifestyle changes fail to reduce your blood pressure to normal levels, you may need medication.