Hypertension: High Blood Pressure Facts and Causes
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Aug 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn about hypertension, or high blood pressure, including its causes, risk factors, symptoms, complications, medications, and key facts and statistics.
At a Glance
- 1 - High blood pressure is generally present when readings are often at or above 140/90 mmHg.
- 2 - Over 91 percent of adult hypertension has no clear cause and is called essential or primary hypertension.
- 3 - Blood pressure is measured with two numbers, systolic and diastolic, reflecting when the heart contracts and relaxes.
- 4 - As arteries age, more collagen fibers stiffen the vessel walls, reducing elasticity and raising mean arterial blood pressure.
Topic Definition
- Hypertension
Hypertension, also called high blood pressure or arterial hypertension, is a chronic condition in which the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries stays elevated over time. It is described by two numbers, systolic pressure when the heart contracts and diastolic pressure when it relaxes between beats, and it is generally considered present when readings are often at or above 140/90 mmHg. Doctors divide it into essential or primary hypertension, which has no single identifiable cause and accounts for the large majority of cases, and secondary hypertension, which stems from another condition such as kidney disease or certain tumors. Often called a silent condition because it usually produces no symptoms until an advanced stage, hypertension can quietly damage the blood vessels and heart for years, which is why screening, healthy lifestyle changes, and, when needed, medication are central to managing it and lowering the risk of complications like heart attack and stroke.
Overview
In current usage, the word hypertension without a qualifier normally refers to arterial hypertension. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. Hypertension can be classified as either essential (primary) or secondary:
- Essential hypertension indicates that no specific medical cause can be found to explain a patient's condition.
- Secondary hypertension indicates that the high blood pressure is a result of (i.e., secondary to) another condition, such as kidney disease or tumors (pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma).
Hypertension risk factors include obesity, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, and family history. In individuals older than 50 years, hypertension is considered to be present when a person's systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 mm Hg or greater or when the diastolic blood pressure is consistently 90 mm Hg or greater. (see our blood pressure reading chart)
Although no specific medical cause can be determined in essential hypertension, it often has several contributing factors. These include obesity, salt sensitivity, renin homeostasis, insulin resistance, genetics, and age. Over time, the number of collagen fibers in artery and arteriole walls increases, making blood vessels stiffer. With the reduced elasticity comes a smaller cross-sectional area in systole, with a raised mean arterial blood pressure.
Over 91% of adult hypertension has no clear cause and is therefore called essential/primary hypertension. Typically, it is part of the metabolic "syndrome X" in patients with insulin resistance: it occurs with diabetes mellitus (type 2), combined hyperlipidemia, and central obesity.
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, or pulmonary capillaries, together known as the lung vasculature, leading to shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms, all of which are exacerbated by exertion. Pulmonary hypertension can be a severe disease with markedly decreased exercise tolerance and heart failure. The degree to which hypertension can be prevented depends on several features, including:
- Current blood pressure level
- Changes in end/target organs (retina, kidney, heart - among others)
- Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases
- The age at presentation.
The American Heart Association estimates high blood pressure affects approximately one in three adults in the United States - 73 million people. High blood pressure is also estimated to impact about two million American teens and children, and the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that many are underdiagnosed. Hypertension is a major public health problem.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
A high or low blood pressure diagnosis requires only one measurement, either systolic or diastolic or both, to be outside the healthy range. For many people with higher than normal blood pressure, there is no obvious cause for their blood pressure being high. Some factors that may contribute to high BP include:
- Aging
- Stress
- Smoking
- Genetics
- Sleep apnea
- Too much salt
- Being overweight
- Lack of exercise
- Chronic kidney disease
- Adrenal and thyroid disorders
- High average alcohol consumption
- Family history of high blood pressure
Signs of high blood pressure include headache, dizziness, pounding in the ears, and a bloody nose. These symptoms typically don't occur until high blood pressure has reached an advanced and even a possibly life-threatening stage.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
The heart requires blood to bring oxygen and nutrients to its muscle tissue. The narrowing of the arteries due to blockage can cause high blood pressure. If this blockage occurs in the heart and coronary arteries, heart muscle damage can result in a heart attack.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. However, most heart attacks start slowly with mild pain and discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and returns. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Shortness of breath may occur, as well as nausea or lightheadedness. It is vital to get help immediately if any of these symptoms occur.
Blood Pressure Medications
There are several types of blood pressure medications, and if one doesn't work, ask your doctor to switch to another until your blood pressure becomes stable.
- Adalat: A dihydropyridine calcium blocker. It is mostly used for treating hypertension and Angina Pectoris. Other conditions that benefit from Adalat are Raynaud's phenomenon, Tetanus, and Angina Pectoris. Brand names of the drug include Procardia and Nifedical.
- Aldactone: While regularly prescribed for high-blood-pressure patients, the drug can also be prescribed with other drugs. However, the drug is useful for controlling, rather than curing, high blood pressure.
Facts
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
- Hypertension is rarely accompanied by any symptoms, and its identification is usually through screening or seeking healthcare for an unrelated problem.
- The first line of treatment for hypertension is identical to the recommended preventive lifestyle changes and includes dietary changes, physical exercise, and weight loss.
- You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and your heart continues and can be detected.
Statistics
- The prevalence of hypertension in the United States is increasing and reached 29% in 2004.
- As of 2000, nearly one billion people had hypertension or ~26% of the world's adult population.
- Hypertension is more common in men (though menopause tends to decrease this difference) and in those of low socioeconomic status.
- As of 2006, hypertension affects 76 million US adults (34% of the population), and African American adults have among the highest rates of hypertension in the world at 44%.
- In 1995, it was estimated that 43 million people in the United States had hypertension or were taking antihypertensive medication, almost 24% of the adult United States population.
- Rates vary markedly in different regions, with rates as low as 3.4% (men) and 6.8% (women) in rural India and as high as 68.9% (men) and 72.5% (women) in Poland. In Europe, hypertension occurs in about 30 - 45% of people as of 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered a normal blood pressure reading
A resting blood pressure roughly within 100 to 140 mmHg systolic over 60 to 90 mmHg diastolic is often described as normal, though targets can vary by individual, so check with your doctor.
Can hypertension be prevented
Many cases can be prevented or delayed through healthy habits such as a balanced low salt diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol and tobacco.
Why is high blood pressure called the silent killer
It is called that because it often causes no noticeable symptoms while still damaging the heart and blood vessels, raising the risk of serious events like stroke.
How often should I check my blood pressure
Frequency depends on your health and risk, so people with normal readings may check periodically, while those with hypertension may need to monitor more often as advised by a doctor.
Does hypertension always require medication
Not always, since mild cases may be managed with lifestyle changes first, but many people need medication alongside those changes to keep blood pressure controlled.
Can young people and children get high blood pressure
Yes, high blood pressure can affect teens and children, and it is often underdiagnosed, which is why regular checkups are important for younger age groups too.
Can stress raise blood pressure
Stress can cause temporary spikes in blood pressure and may contribute to unhealthy habits, so managing stress is a helpful part of overall blood pressure control.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
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