Common Causes of Hypertension

Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, can lead to all sorts of medical disasters such as heart attack and stroke. Since many of the treatments for hypertension can have very undesirable side effects, prevention is often one of the best ways of dealing with hypertension. There are also so many causes of this silent, but deadly disease.

Those at Risk

• The elderly, the obese, African Americans and those with diabetes have the highest chance of developing hypertension. Those with high stress and those who fail to exercise also have a high chance of raising their blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Bad Products

• The consumption of salt, alcohol and cigarettes can lead to higher blood pressure. A low-nutrient diet can also cause high blood pressure. Some medications like birth control pills, cold remedies, pain relievers and illegal drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines are bad for blood pressure.

Medical Conditions

• Some medical conditions can increase the incidence of hypertension. Kidney and heart problems can lead to hypertension. Those with tumors on the adrenal gland are also susceptible.

Disease Causes

• Diseases that can lead to hypertension include: arteriosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, PCOS, pheochromocytoma, primary hyperaldosteronism, sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, Cushing's Disease, Werner's syndrome, Gram's syndrome and over 200 other causes.

Most Common Causes

• Though much can be done to prevent many of the causes of hypertension, some of the most common causes of hypertension are difficult to prevent simply with changes in lifestyle. Most common causes of hypertension are, chronic liver disease, congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease and sickle cell disease.