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Secondary Hypertension is a form of elevated blood pressure (Hypertension), a medical condition that is wide spread and can be a potentially deadly disease.

Hypertension (HTN) can be divided into two categories:

1.)  Primary Hypertension

2.)  Secondary Hypertension

Primary

–  Occurs in 90-95% of those individuals with hypertension
–  No specific causes is identifiable

Secondary

–  Occurs in 5% of those individuals with hypertension
–  Several specific causes which therefore, elevated blood pressure becomes a symptom:

Causes of Secondary Hypertension:

1.)  Endocrine diseases

–  Cushing’s Syndrome
–  Pheochromocytoma
–  Hyperaldosteronism  (Conn’s syndrome)
–  Hyperthyroidism
–  Hypothyroidism
–  Acromegaly
–  Hyperparathyroidism
–  Others

2.)  Kidney diseases

–  Chronic renal failure
–  Kidney disease

3.)  Cancers

4.)  Medication

–  Alcohol
–  Stimulants
–  Hormonal contraception
–  Nasal decongestants
–  others

5.)  Pregnancy

6.)  Obstructive Sleep Apnea

7.)  Neurological disorders

8.)  others

Symptoms

–  Many have no symptoms at all
–  Headache
–  Dizziness
–  Nausea
–  Heart racing
–  Vision changes

*** –  if hypertension is a secondary cause from another disease then symptoms of that disease are often present as well

Differences or characteristics of Secondary Hypertension

–  When onset is younger than age 20
–  When onset is over age 50
–  Not treatable with medications
–  Lack of family history of hypertension
–  Other physical exam findings

Diagnosis

–  Lab tests
–  Urinalysis
–  EKG
–  others

Treatment:

1.)  Antihypertensive Medications

2.)  Control or resolution of underlying cause

3.)  Protection of target organ