High blood pressure (Hypertension) is a condition where the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body, increasing the risk of serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can arise from various factors, broadly categorized into two types:
1. Primary (Essential) Hypertension
Genetic Factors: A complex interplay of genetic components contributes to primary hypertension. More than 2,000 common genetic variants with small effects on blood pressure have been identified, along with some rare variants with larger impacts.
Environmental and Lifestyle Factors: Several modifiable factors influence blood pressure:
- Diet: High sodium intake is associated with increased blood pressure.
- Physical Inactivity: Lack of regular physical activity can contribute to weight gain and higher blood pressure.
- Obesity: Excess body weight is linked to increased blood pressure.
- Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol intake is associated with higher blood pressure.
- Stress: Chronic stress may contribute to elevated blood pressure.
2. Secondary Hypertension
- Kidney Disease: Impaired kidney function can lead to increased blood pressure.
- Endocrine Disorders: Conditions such as primary aldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome), where the adrenal glands produce excess aldosterone, can cause hypertension.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This sleep disorder is linked to elevated blood pressure.
- Medications: Certain medications, including immunosuppressants, NSAIDs, and oral contraceptives, can raise blood pressure.
- Substance Use: Recreational drugs like amphetamines and cocaine are associated with increased blood pressure.
