Blood pressure is the force of blood acting on the walls of the arteries as the pumping action of the heart circulates blood throughout the body. A blood pressure reading uses millimeters of mercury units, or mmHg, and has a systolic component as the top number and a diastolic component as the bottom number. If the patients's systolic number is 140 or higher or the diastolic number is 90 or higher, the patient has high blood pressure or hypertension.
Essential High Blood Pressure
A diagnosis of essential high blood pressure indicates that a doctor cannot identify the cause for the condition. There are, however, risk factors that predispose people to essential high blood pressure. As people age, the chances of developing high blood pressure increase. In addition, people are more likely to have high blood pressure if members of their immediate family have the disease. Lifestyle factors such as obesity, smoking, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol consumption increase the chances of getting essential high blood pressure. Finally, elements of a person's diet such as excessive use of salt and chronic consumption of high-fat foods can contribute to an increased risk of essential hypertension.
Secondary High Blood Pressure
According to the National Health Service in England, about 5 percent of high blood pressure cases stem from a disease state or a traceable cause; these cases are classified as secondary high blood pressure. This condition can result from kidney disease or kidney infection, or due to arteries becoming narrow from atherosclerosis. People can also develop high blood pressure because of an adrenal gland condition called Cushing's Syndrome in which there are high levels of the hormone cortisol in the blood.
Medications such as oral contraceptives and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can lead to secondary high blood pressure, as can excessive alcohol consumption and the use of illegal drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines.
Isolated Systolic Hypertension
If the top number of a patient's blood pressure reading is greater than 140 mmHg and the bottom number is less than 90 mmHg, the patient has a common type of high blood pressure called isolated systolic hypertension, says the Mayo Clinic. This type of high blood pressure can result from medical conditions such as a leaky heart valve or an overactive thyroid gland. If left untreated, isolated systolic hypertension can lead to heart attack, stroke, chronic kidney disease or dementia.
