Secondary hypertension: Know what it is and who are at risk

Even though high blood pressure or hypertension is a prevalent health complication, about 70 per cent of the cases go undiagnosed in India. One of the reasons is the lack of awareness about the causes and risk factors, particularly among the rural population which further trickles down to low treatment rates, predisposing people to life-threatening conditions. Many do not even know that there are two types of hypertension - primary and secondary. Primary hypertension is the most common one caused due to poor lifestyle habits or family history, while secondary hypertension is usually a result of other medical conditions. Accounting for about 10 per cent of all cases of high blood pressure, it often goes undiagnosed.

High blood pressure is characterised by having a higher amount of pressure in your blood vessels than normal. It is evaluated by a systolic and diastolic number that appears on the blood pressure monitoring machine.

Secondary hypertension is caused as the result of a known disease or condition that the patient has been suffering for a long time. This type of hypertension differs from primary hypertension in many ways. Proper treatment for secondary hypertension can also help to control the underlying health condition and reduce the risk of health-related complications.

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Just like primary hypertension, secondary hypertension has subtle signs. Even if it reaches a dangerous level, it is difficult to detect if one is not careful about it. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, these common signs indicate that you probably have secondary hypertension:

A condition that is unmanageable with blood pressure medication

Very high blood pressure

Sudden-onset high blood pressure at a younger age

No family history of high blood pressure

No obesity

Several chronic conditions can make your blood pressure level shoot up. Managing high blood pressure can also help to reduce the symptoms of other underlying health conditions. Some of the reasons one may develop secondary hypertension are:

Diabetes: Unmanaged diabetes can put excessive pressure on the kidneys to flush out sugar from the blood. This condition over time can spike the blood pressure level.

Polycystic kidney disease: Cysts in your kidneys can obstruct the normal functioning of the kidneys, leading to a spike in blood pressure level.

Renovascular hypertension: This type of high blood pressure is caused when the arteries leading to your kidneys narrow down.

Cushing syndrome: High cortisol levels for a long time can lead to Cushing syndrome and its medication may cause secondary hypertension.

Hormonal disorder: Thyroid disorder or Aldosteronism can also impact your kidneys leading to a rise in the blood pressure level.

Sleep apnea: Severe snoring during sleep that causes obstruction in getting a sufficient amount of oxygen can damage the lining of the blood vessel, leading to high blood pressure.

Apart from these other conditions like obesity, pregnancy and excessive intake of some over-the-counter drugs can also lead to secondary hypertension.

To treat hypertension first the underlying condition that increases the blood pressure level needs to be treated. Once the underlying condition is treated, the blood pressure will go back to normal. Depending on your condition, the doctor will prescribe you medication, lifestyle changes and other treatment options to control your blood pressure level.