Who is at risk for systemic hypertension?
In about 10% of people, high blood pressure is caused by another disease (this is called secondary hypertension). In such cases, when the root cause is treated, blood pressure usually returns to normal. These causes of secondary hypertension include the following conditions: • Chronic kidney disease • Tumors or other diseases of the adrenal gland • Coarctation of the aorta – A narrowing of the aorta that you are born with that can cause high blood pressure in your arms • Pregnancy • Use of birth control pills • Alcohol addiction • Thyroid dysfunction In the other 90% of cases, the cause of high blood pressure is not known (referred to as primary hypertension). Although the specific cause is unknown, certain factors are recognized as contributing to high blood pressure.
