Secondary high blood pressure

About 5% of people with high blood pressure have secondary high blood pressure, which is caused by another condition or by medicine.¹ Secondary high blood pressure often can be cured.

Possible causes of secondary high blood pressure include:

• Certain types of kidney disease.
• Certain medicines, such as birth control pills, amphetamines, appetite suppressants, some antidepressants (venlafaxine/Effexor), steroids, and some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Pregnancy (preeclampsia).
• Narrowing of the kidney arteries.
• Diseases of the adrenal gland, such as Cushing's disease and pheochromocytoma.
• Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
• Drinking alcohol (more than three drinks a day).

Secondary high blood pressure may be suspected in people who:

• Are younger than age 35.
• Have sudden onset of high blood pressure, especially in a person older than age 50.
• Have no family history of high blood pressure.
• Have severe high blood pressure (160/100 or higher).
• Have high blood pressure that does not improve after trying several different treatments and medicines
• Have high blood pressure that suddenly increases after being well controlled using medicine.
• Have or develop kidney disease.
• Have symptoms of conditions that can cause high blood pressure.

Citations

1. Rudd P, Osterberg LG (2002). Hypertension: Context, pathophysiology, and management. In EJ Topol, ed., Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, pp. 91-122. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.