Hypertension is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity around the world. It is also an important risk factor for chronic disease burden in our country.While 90-95 per cent of patients having high blood pressure (BP) have no clear causes and are classified as having primary hypertension, 5-10 per cent people may have an underlying pathology or a reversible cause behind their high BP (secondary hypertension). Primary hypertension is usually linked to genetics, poor diet, a lack of exercise and obesity. Secondary hypertension, on the other hand, can be caused by a number of uncommon causes or diseases. Following are some of the not so common yet treatable causes of hypertension:Kidney diseases like diabetic nephropathy, polycystic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome, renovascular hypertension (often in patients with coronary or peripheral atherosclerosis) may cause secondary hypertension. Endocrine diseases such as thyroid problems, hyperparathyroidism, aldosteronism, cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma affecting body hormone levels may also cause hypertension. Another uncommon problem is coarctation of the aorta. Usually congenital but may not be detected until adulthood because it is often asymptomatic. Classic symptoms include upper extremity hypertension, delayed or decreased femoral pulses and low blood pressure in the lower extremities.Other causes include sleep apnea. Common symptoms include headache, fatigue, daytime somnolence, confusion, difficulty in concentrating, depression, personality changes, hypertension, and cardiac arrhythmias. Constant lack of sleep can also increase the amount of stress hormones which can also raise BP. besity, high sugar levels, pregnancy (it can make existing high BP worse, or may cause high BP to develop. Medicines and supplements such as pain relievers, birth control pills, antidepressants, steroids, sex hormones and some anti-cancer drugs used after organ transplants can cause also high BP.
