11/20/2023
*Causes of High blood pressure (hypertension)*
In most cases, it's not clear exactly what causes high blood pressure. But there are things that can increase your risk.
Things that can increase your risk of getting high blood pressure
You might be more at risk if you do them:
are overweight,
eating too much of salt and not eating enough fruit and vegetables,
Not doing enough exercise,
drinking too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks),
smoke,
having lot of stress
are over 65,
have a relative with high blood pressure
are of black African or black Caribbean descent
live in a deprived area
Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it's already high.
Find out more about how to prevent high blood pressure
Known causes of high blood pressure
In about 1 in 10 cases, high blood pressure happens as the result of an underlying health condition or taking a certain medicine.
Health conditions that can cause high blood pressure include:
kidney disease
diabetes
long-term kidney infections
sleep apnoea – where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting normal breathing
glomerulonephritis – damage to the tiny filters inside the kidneys
narrowing of the arteries supplying the kidneys
hormone problems – such as an underactive thyroid, an overactive thyroid, Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, increased levels of the hormone aldosterone (hyperaldosteronism), and phaeochromocytoma
lupus – a condition in which the immune system attacks parts of the body, such as the skin, joints and organs
scleroderma – a condition that causes thickened skin, and sometimes problems with organs and blood vessels
Medicines that can increase your blood pressure include:
the contraceptive pill
steroids
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen
some pharmacy cough and cold remedies
some herbal remedies – particularly
