Blood pressure, high

Alternative names:

HBP; high blood pressure

Definition:

Increased or elevated blood pressure, either intermittent or sustained, exceeding 140/90 mmHg (millimeters of mercury).

Considerations:

About 1 in every 5 adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure occurs more often in men than in women and in African Americans almost twice as often as in Caucasians.

Hypertension can affect all types of people. Most people feel no symptoms with uncomplicated high blood pressure. Essential hypertension (hypertension with no known cause) is not fully understood but accounts for about 85% of all hypertension cases in people over 45 years of age.

Even though many high blood pressure cases do not have a known cause, the condition can still be treated effectively. There are dozens of different medications available for the management of high blood pressure.

Common causes:

• medications (such as appetite suppressants)
• habitual alcohol use
• excess sodium (salt) in diet
• obesity
• anxiety or stress
• arteriosclerosis
• agitation
• coarctation of the aorta
• immobilization
• pain
• acute tubular necrosis
• hemolytic-uremic syndrome
• Henoch-Schonlein purpura
• periarteritis nodosa
• radiation enteritis
• renal artery stenosis
• retroperitoneal fibrosis
• fibromuscular dysplasia
• Wilms' tumor
• hydronephrosis
• renal aphasia
• renal vein thrombosis
• renal artery embolism
• renal artery occlusion
• glomerulonephritis (see individual types)
• amyloidosis
• diabetes mellitus
• gout
• nephrolithiasis
• idiopathic neuropathy
• obstructive uropathy (see individual diseases)
• drugs such as alcohol toxicity, anesthesia, antianxiety agents, antihypertensives, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, general anesthetics, antiarrhythmics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, narcotic analgesics, tranquilizers, and vasodilators

Note: There may be other causes of high blood pressure. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for high blood pressure, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.