Know what secondary hypertension is and who is at risk

Everything you should know about secondary hypertension

Despite the fact that high blood pressure, often known as hypertension, is a common health problem in India, over 70% of cases go undetected. One of the reasons is a lack of knowledge about the causes and risk factors, especially among the rural population, which leads to low treatment rates and predisposes people to life-threatening illnesses. Many people are unaware that there are two kinds of hypertension: primary and secondary hypertension. The most frequent type of hypertension is primary hypertension, which is caused by bad lifestyle behaviours or a family history of hypertension, while secondary hypertension is usually caused by other medical issues. It accounts for around 10% of all cases of high blood pressure and is frequently misdiagnosed.

Secondary hypertension: A Basic Guide

A higher than normal amount of pressure in your blood vessels defines high blood pressure. A systolic and diastolic number on a blood pressure monitoring system is used to assess it.

Secondary hypertension develops as a result of a long-term illness or condition. Primary hypertension differs in several ways from this type of hypertension. Secondary hypertension can be treated effectively to help control the underlying health condition and reduce the risk of health problems.

Secondary hypertension symptoms

Secondary hypertension, like main hypertension, displays modest symptoms. Even if it reaches a dangerous level, if one is not vigilant, it is difficult to recognise. These typical indicators indicate that you have secondary hypertension if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure:
A condition that is uncontrollable despite the use of blood pressure medicines

Secondary hypertension is caused by a variety of factors.

A number of chronic diseases might cause your blood pressure to rise. High blood pressure management can also assist to alleviate the symptoms of various underlying health problems. The following are some of the causes of secondary hypertension:

Diabetes: If left untreated, diabetes can put an undue strain on the kidneys’ ability to remove sugar from the bloodstream. This disorder can cause blood pressure to rise over time.

Polycystic kidney disease: Cysts in the kidneys can hinder normal renal function, resulting in a rise in blood pressure.

Renovascular hypertension is a type of high blood pressure induced by narrowing of the arteries leading to the kidneys.

Cushing syndrome: Long-term high cortisol levels can cause Cushing syndrome.

Treatment

To treat hypertension, the underlying problem that causes high blood pressure must be addressed first. The blood pressure will return to normal after the underlying issue is treated. The doctor will prescribe medication, lifestyle adjustments, and other treatment methods to lower your blood pressure level, depending on your situation.