Causes of Hypertension

The cause of hypertension is often not known.

Around 1 in every 20 cases of hypertension is the effect of an underlying condition or medication.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common cause of high blood pressure because the kidneys do not filter out fluid. This fluid excess leads to hypertension.

Risk factors

A number of risk factors increase the chances of having hypertension.

Age:

Hypertension is more common in people aged over 60 years. With age, blood pressure can increase steadily as the arteries become stiffer and narrower due to plaque build-up.

Ethnicity: 

Some ethnic groups are more prone to hypertension.

Size and weight: 

Being overweight or obese is a key risk factor.

Alcohol and tobacco use: 

Consuming large amounts of alcohol regularly can increase a person's blood pressure, as can smoking tobacco.

Sex: 

The lifetime risk is the same for males and females, but men are more prone to hypertension at a younger age. The prevalence tends to be higher in older women.

Existing health conditions: 

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and high cholesterol levels can lead to hypertension, especially as people get older.

Other contributing factors include:

• physical inactivity
• a salt-rich diet associated with processed and fatty foods
• low potassium in the diet
• alcohol and tobacco use
• certain diseases and medications

A family history of high blood pressure and poorly managed stress can also contribute.

Below is a 3-D model of hypertension, which is fully interactive.

Explore the model using your mouse pad or touchscreen to understand more about hypertension.