high blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) - Causes - NHS

2024.05.21 15:27

 Skip to main content Health A-Z NHS services Live Well Mental health Care and support Pregnancy Home NHS services Browse More Home Health A to Z High blood pressure (hypertension)

Back to High blood pressure (hypertension)

Causes - High blood pressure (hypertension)

Contents

Overview Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention

In most cases, it's not clear exactly what causes high blood pressure. But there are things that can increase your risk.

Things that can increase your risk of getting high blood pressure

You might be more at risk if you:

are overweight eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables do not do enough exercise drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks) smoke have a lot of stress are over 65 have a relative with high blood pressure are of black African or black Caribbean descent live in a deprived area

Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it's already high.

Find out more about how to prevent high blood pressure

Known causes of high blood pressure

In about 1 in 10 cases, high blood pressure happens as the result of an underlying health condition or taking a certain medicine.

Health conditions that can cause high blood pressure include:

kidney disease diabetes long-term kidney infections sleep apnoea  – where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting normal breathing glomerulonephritis  – damage to the tiny filters inside the kidneys narrowing of the arteries supplying the kidneys hormone problems – such as an  underactive thyroid , an overactive thyroid , Cushing's syndrome , acromegaly , increased levels of the hormone aldosterone (hyperaldosteronism), and phaeochromocytoma lupus  – a condition in which the immune system attacks parts of the body, such as the skin, joints and organs scleroderma  – a condition that causes thickened skin, and sometimes problems with organs and blood vessels

Medicines that can increase your blood pressure include:

the contraceptive pill steroids non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)  – such as ibuprofen , aspirin and naproxen some pharmacy cough and cold remedies some herbal remedies – particularly those containing liquorice some recreational drugs – such as cocaine and amphetamines some selective serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) antidepressants  – such as venlafaxine

In these cases, your blood pressure may return to normal once you stop taking the medicine or drug.

Page last reviewed: 11 July 2023
Next review due: 11 July 2026

Previous : High blood pressure (hypertension) Next : Diagnosis

Support links

Home Health A to Z Live Well Mental health Care and support Pregnancy NHS services Coronavirus (COVID-19) NHS App Find my NHS number View your GP health record View your test results About the NHS Healthcare abroad Contact us Other NHS websites Profile editor login About us Accessibility statement Our policies Cookies

© Crown copyright

• High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Treatment
  High blood pressure (hypertension) is a blood pressure that is 140/90 mm Hg or above each time it is taken at the GP surgery, or home or ambulatory readings ...
• What is High Blood Pressure?
  Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) (for Teens)
  Elevated BP with a systolic pressure between 120 and 129 mm Hg and diastolic pressure less than 80 mm Hg. Stage 1 hypertension, with a systolic pressure of 130 ...
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) (for Parents)
  What Are the Signs & Symptoms of High Blood Pressure? Most of the time high blood pressure doesn't cause symptoms. In rare cases, severe high blood pressure can ...
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Symptoms & Ways to ...
  High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common disease that occurs when the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be.
• High Blood Pressure–Understanding the Silent Killer
  High blood pressure (hypertension) develops when blood flows through arteries at higher than normal pressures. It increases the risk for ...
• Hypertension
  Hypertension occurs when the force exerted against artery walls is abnormally high. Over time, elevated pressure can cause a wide range of ...
• High blood pressure (hypertension) overview
  High blood pressure · Systolic pressure: this is the higher of the two numbers. · Normal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60 mmHg and 120/ ...
• About High Blood Pressure
  High blood pressure, known in medical terms as hypertension, is when blood flows through your arteries with excessive force or pressure. Your blood pressure ...
• High Blood Pressure - Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders
  Everything you need to know about hypertension (high blood pressure) ... Hypertension, or high blood pressure, often produces no symptoms, but it can increase the ...