High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high. In most cases, theres no identifiable cause of high blood pressure, which is called primary hypertension or essential hypertension. It tends to develop gradually over many years. However, there are things that can increase your risk of getting high blood pressure, such as:
- Being overweight or obese
- Eating too much salt and not enough fruit and vegetables
- Not doing enough exercise
- Drinking too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
- Smoking
- Having a lot of stress
- Being over 65
- Having a relative with high blood pressure
- Being of black African or black Caribbean descent
- Living in a deprived area
Secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying condition and tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than primary hypertension. Conditions and medicines that can lead to secondary hypertension include:
- Adrenal gland tumors
- Blood vessel problems present at birth, also called congenital heart defects
- Cough and cold medicines, some pain relievers, birth control pills, and other prescription drugs
- Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Pregnancy
- Aneurysm
- Heart failure
Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if its already high.
