What should you know about secondary hypertension?

Possible contributors include kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, hormone-related disorders, some medicines and substances. Obesity can raise blood pressure and may coexist with other causes. High blood pressure often causes no clear symptom, so a reading alone cannot identify why it is high. Clinicians consider when it began, how high it is, medicines and family history, then choose examinations or tests that fit.

Arrange a medical review and bring home readings, the names and doses of medicines and supplements, and details of snoring or daytime sleepiness. Use a validated monitor with the correct cuff and follow the clinician’s measurement instructions. Do not stop blood-pressure medicine suddenly or add supplements without advice. Managing the underlying cause may change the treatment plan.

Call emergency services for very high blood pressure with chest pain, severe breathlessness, new weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, confusion, fainting or sudden vision change. These can signal an emergency such as heart failure or stroke. Seek prompt review for repeated high readings, severe headache with neurological symptoms, or a rapid rise during pregnancy.

Ask whether kidney, hormone, sleep or medicine-related causes should be checked, which tests are appropriate, and how to measure at home. Ask what reading or symptom should trigger urgent care and whether your current treatment needs adjustment.