Secondary hypertension has a high probability of being cure

One minute to understand what is secondary hypertension

1. Definition of secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension, also called symptomatic hypertension, is an increase in blood pressure due to some identified disease or cause. When the primary disease is cured, the high blood pressure, which is a secondary symptom, also decreases or returns to normal.

2. What is the most common cause of secondary hypertension?

Secondary hypertension is an increase in blood pressure caused by some specific diseases, and the main etiologies are as follows:

• Renal parenchymal hypertension. Renal parenchymal hypertension is the most common secondary hypertension, and the main etiologies include chronic glomerulonephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, congenital kidney lesions (polycystic kidney), diabetic nephropathy, and chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy.

• Renal vascular hypertension. Renal vascular hypertension is hypertension caused by narrowing of the renal arteries, including aortitis, the poor myofibrillar structure of the renal arteries, and atherosclerosis, among other etiologies.

• Endocrine hypertension. It occurs mainly in young and middle-aged people and includes primary aldosteronism, adrenal adenoma, unilateral or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal or ectopic adenocarcinoma, pheochromocytoma, Cushing's syndrome, hyper- or hypothyroidism, and menopausal syndrome.

• Hypertension due to cardiovascular lesions. These include aortic valve insufficiency, complete atrioventricular block, aortic stenosis, etc.

• Hypertension caused by craniocerebral lesions. These include brain tumors and traumatic brain injury, etc.

• Sleep apnea syndrome. Can cause ventilation disorders and cause hypertension.

• Drug-related hypertension. Hypertension is caused by the use of certain drugs, such as glucocorticoids, alcohol, herbal medicines, etc.

• Monogenic hereditary hypertension. Related to genetic factors, seen in certain hereditary diseases.

3. What are the types of secondary hypertension?

• Renal substantial hypertension, including hypertension caused by acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, and other renal pathologies, is the most common secondary hypertension.

• Hypertension caused by primary aldosteronism is often associated with hypokalemia, muscle weakness, and peripheral paralysis.

• Hypertension caused by pheochromocytoma, which often occurs in the adrenal glands, is mostly benign and can be surgically removed.

• In hypertension caused by cortisol, patients tend to have features such as centripetal obesity, full moon face, and buffalo back.

• Hypertension caused by aortic constriction, which is usually congenital, can be treated with interventional or surgical procedures.

4. secondary hypertension symptoms

Typical symptoms

• Typical symptoms of hypertension such as dizziness, headache and tinnitus are mostly due to hypertensive vasospasm or dilation. Typical hypertensive headache disappears when blood pressure drops.

• Symptoms such as stiff neck, fatigue, palpitations, blurred vision and rhinorrhea may occur. Most symptoms are aggravated after stress or exertion and may resolve on their own. There is a correlation between the symptoms and the blood pressure level.

Other symptoms

• Severe dizziness and vertigo, chest tightness, shortness of breath, angina pectoris, polyuria, and other severe symptoms or symptoms of the affected organs may occur, or manifestations of the corresponding primary disease, such as significant impairment of kidney function, pulmonary edema, and hypokalemia.

5. What kind of person suffers from secondary hypertension easily?

Secondary hypertension occurs in people who are older, consume more salt, are obese, and have a family history of hypertension.

6. Secondary hypertension and complications

Cerebrovascular accident

• The sudden increase of blood pressure leads to cerebrovascular rupture and sudden fainting, followed by coma, flushed face, distorted mouth and eyes, gazing at the side of bleeding, paralysis of the limb on the opposite side of bleeding, clenching of fist, closed teeth, loud snoring, or pale face, open hand and mouth, and incontinence of urine and stool. Sometimes vomiting may occur, and in severe cases it may be accompanied by gastric bleeding and coffee-colored vomitus.

Hypertensive heart disease

• Long-term poor control of blood pressure in hypertensive patients causes changes in the structure and function of the heart, including early left ventricular diastolic hypoplasia and gradual development of left ventricular hypertrophy into myocardial hyposystole, which will eventually develop into heart failure.

Renal failure

• If hypertension is not treated promptly and correctly, it will destroy the blood vessels of the kidneys, leading to insufficient blood supply to the kidneys and causing damage to the kidney function. There will be manifestations of hypertension such as headache and head swelling; accompanied by nausea, vomiting, smell of urine in the mouth, water-electrolyte and protein metabolism disorders and other manifestations of kidney failure.

Hypertensive crisis

• Sudden and significant increase in blood pressure under the action of some triggers, and rapid deterioration of the condition, accompanied by progressive heart, brain, kidney, retina and other important target organ insufficiency manifestations.

7. Secondary hypertension diagnostic criteria

Presence of the following conditions highly suspicious of secondary hypertension.

• Poor response to treatment.

• Difficulty controlling blood pressure in a patient with previously stable blood pressure.

• Severe hypertension (SBP/DBP >180/110 mmHg).

• Hypertension occurring before age 20 or after age 50, significant hypertensive target organ damage.

• No family history of hypertension.

• Medical history, physical examination ,or laboratory tests suggesting secondary hypertension.

8. Three issues of concern to patients

• Can it be cured？Secondary hypertension is partially curable.

• How long you can live? The primary disease needs to be judged. Mild cases usually do not affect life expectancy.

• Follow-up examinations. Patients with secondary hypertension should have their blood pressure measured regularly even after they are cured, and should be followed up if necessary. Ultrasound examination is required after surgical treatment.

Most secondary hypertension has no effective preventive measures. Early detection of hypertension and aggressive identification of the cause and effective treatment is key to avoiding serious complications in cardiac, cerebral, and renal target organs. Genetic screening is required for patients with a family history of hereditary disease.

If you need more information, you can also refer to the links below:

1. U.S National library of medicine

2.All images are from Pexels