High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition that significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious health issues. Understanding the type of hypertension can be crucial for effective treatment.
Hypertension is generally classified into two types: primary (essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension.
This review explains the differences between these types, including their causes, how they are diagnosed, and their treatments, in language that’s easy for everyone to understand.
Primary Hypertension Primary hypertension is the most common type of high blood pressure. It accounts for about 90-95% of all cases. The exact cause of primary hypertension is not well understood, but it is believed to develop over many years due to a combination of factors.
These factors include genetic predispositions—meaning it can run in families—and lifestyle choices such as poor diet (especially high in salt), lack of physical activity, and tobacco use.
The development of primary hypertension is typically gradual, and it usually doesn’t have any outward symptoms.
For this reason, it is often called a “silent killer,” as many people may not realize they have high blood pressure until they experience complications or have it measured during a doctor’s visit.
Secondary Hypertension Unlike primary hypertension, secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying condition that raises blood pressure. It accounts for about 5-10% of hypertension cases.
Secondary hypertension can occur suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than primary hypertension.
Conditions that can lead to secondary hypertension include kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid problems, adrenal gland tumors, certain congenital heart defects, and the use of certain medications, such as birth control pills, decongestants, and some prescription drugs.
Secondary hypertension is usually diagnosed during a medical evaluation for a sudden increase in blood pressure, or when a standard hypertension treatment doesn’t work.
Detecting the underlying cause often involves a series of tests, including blood tests, urine tests, imaging scans, and more.
Diagnosis and Treatment Diagnosing both types of hypertension generally involves monitoring blood pressure readings. However, if a healthcare provider suspects secondary hypertension, additional tests to identify the underlying cause will be necessary.
The treatment of primary hypertension usually involves lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication. Lifestyle modifications can include adopting a healthier diet (such as the DASH diet), increasing physical activity, managing stress, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake.
Treatment for secondary hypertension includes managing the underlying condition. For example, if kidney disease is causing high blood pressure, treatment will focus on managing the kidney disease to reduce its impact on blood pressure.
Sometimes, treating the underlying cause can completely resolve the hypertension.
Conclusion Understanding whether hypertension is primary or secondary is crucial for effective treatment. While primary hypertension may be managed through lifestyle changes and medication, secondary hypertension requires addressing the underlying health issues.
For both types, maintaining regular medical check-ups is important because effective management of high blood pressure can greatly reduce the risk of heart disease and other severe complications.
Awareness and timely intervention are key in managing both primary and secondary hypertension, enhancing overall health outcomes.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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