The Key Causes of
High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or HBP, which is also called hypertension, means that there's a high amount of pressure within the arteries of the heart. Arteries are the vessels that carry blood from the heart to each of the cells in the body.

A normal blood pressure range is below 120/80. If blood pressure is a bit over this, but is under 139/89, this is considered pre-
hypertension. Anything above this is considered high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is not an emotional state. Rather, it's a physical level of pressure that builds within the body. However, emotions and stress can cause blood pressure to increase, which in turn can lead to a variety of illnesses and complications.

Essential Hypertension

To explore the causes of this condition, you need to understand the two different types of hypertension, essential (or primary) and secondary hypertension.

Essential hypertension makes up about 95 percent of all cases. There are numerous causes of essential hypertension. Generally, it's a variety of factors that leads to this diagnosis of hypertension in an individual. According to some reports, more than 72 million people in the United States alone suffer from this form of hypertension. However, the causes are not often known.

They may include:

• Stress
• Salt intake
• Hereditary factors
• Hardening of the arteries

Secondary Hypertension

The second type of hypertension is secondary hypertension, which accounts for about 5 percent of all cases of high blood pressure. In these individuals, the causes for the condition are generally abnormalities found in one or the organs of the body or one of the systems of the body. For example, an abnormality in the formation of the heart will lead to increased pressure within its arteries. Common disorders occur in the kidneys, adrenal glands or the aortic artery.

Identifying Causes

The causes of high blood pressure are rarely discussed with doctors, since they can often be a combination of factors. Rather, doctors often put more attention into reducing blood pressure, which helps to ensure that the heart is not over taxed or that the arteries do not burst.

However, by understanding the cause of the condition, doctors can specify the right treatment for the patient. This often involves diagnostic testing and carefully understanding the lifestyle of the individual. With or without these causes, there are many treatment options available for high blood pressure.

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