The prevalence of secondary hypertension varies with age, being most prevalent at the extremes of age, accounting for 70 to 85 percent of hypertension cases in children less than 12 years of age, and approximately 17 percent of cases in adults age 65 and older. Because secondary hypertension is rare, occurring in only 5 to 10 percent of the population, it is not always discovered.
The most common causes in children are renal parenchymal disease and coarctation of the aorta. In adults 65 years and older, atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis, renal failure, and hypothyroidism are common causes.
An injury to the kidney or arteries that are too narrow can lead to poor blood supply to the organ. This can trigger higher production of a hormone called renin. Renin leads to production of substances in the body (like the protein molecule angiotensin II) that can raise blood pressure. Several kidney diseases may cause secondary hypertension, including:
*Diabetes complications (diabetic nephropathy)
*Polycystic kidney disease
*Glomerular disease
*Renovascular hypertension
The adrenal glands produce and regulate hormones. When there is a problem with these glands, hormones in the body can become unbalanced and cause several conditions: Primary aldosteronism, Cushing syndrome/disease (too much of the hormone cortisol, a regulator of carbohydrate metabolism and blood pressure), hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, pheochromocytoma
Secondary hypertension usually has no specific symptoms, even if blood pressure has reached dangerously high levels.
Treatment for secondary hypertension involves treating the medical condition that's causing it with medications or surgery. Effective treatment reduces the risk of serious complications — including heart disease, kidney failure and stroke.
Secondary hypertension
