Change in lifestyle, medication may cure secondary hypertension

If you have high blood pressure of more than 180/ 120 mm Hg with no family history before 30 or after 55 years of age then you may be suffering from secondary hypertension and need to bring in lifestyle modification and medications.

Secondary Hypertension is high blood pressure that is caused by another medical condition that affects 5 to 10 percent hypertensive population.

Diagnosis of secondary hypertension is made by accurately measuring blood pressure at several occasions and examining the patient thoroughly for causative conditions.

Idiopathic hypertension accounts for 90 to 95 percent hypertension cases, whereas secondary hypertension accounts for five to 10 percent hypertensive population.

Dr Ravindranath Reddy from BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals said that the secondary hypertension affects a small but significant number of the hypertensive population.

"Once the diagnosis is made, treatment should be directed towards eliminating causative condition apart from controlling the blood pressure by life style modification and medications," Dr Reddy added.

A number of conditions can cause secondary hypertension which include - Kidney diseases

Endocrine disorders such as pheochromocytoma, hyperaldosteronism, Cushing syndrome,thyroid diseases,hyperparathyroidism Coarctation of the aorta, aortoarteritis Sleep apnea Obesity Pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia Medications such as NSAIDs, contraceptive pills, antidepressants, nasal decongestants cyclosporine and steroids

Like primary hypertension, secondary hypertension usually has no specific or minimal signs and symptoms, even if blood pressure has reached dangerously high levels.

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, having any of these signs may mean your condition is secondary hypertension:

• Recent onset high blood pressure before age 30 or after age 55 years

• Recurrent flash pulmonary edema

• High blood pressure that does not respond to multiple blood pressure medications

• Very high blood pressure more than 180/ 120 mm Hg

• No family history of high blood pressure

• Specific symptoms like sweating, palpitations, tremors, muscle weakness, sleep disturbance, buffalo hump, central obesity, edema and head ache.