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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffLike primary high blood pressure (hypertension), secondary hypertension usually has no specific signs or symptoms, even if your blood pressure has reached dangerously high levels.
Although a few people with early-stage high blood pressure may have dull headaches, dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal, these signs and symptoms typically don't occur until high blood pressure has reached an advanced — even life-threatening — stage.
If you're diagnosed with high blood pressure, having any of these signs may mean your condition is secondary hypertension:
- High blood pressure that doesn't respond to blood pressure medications (resistant hypertension)
- Very high blood pressure — systolic blood pressure over 180 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or a diastolic blood pressure over 110 mm Hg
- A blood pressure medication that previously controlled your blood pressure no longer works
- Sudden-onset high blood pressure before age 20 or after age 50
- No family history of high blood pressure
When to see a doctor
If you have a condition that can cause secondary hypertension, you may need your blood pressure checked more frequently. Ask your doctor how often you should have your blood pressure checked.
Unless you have symptoms of extremely high blood pressure, there's probably no need to make a special trip to the doctor to have your blood pressure checked.
- Chobanian AV, et al. Seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Hypertension. 2003;42(6)1202-1256.
- Onusko E. Diagnosing secondary hypertension. American Family Physician. 2003;68(1):67-74.
- Taler SJ. Secondary causes of hypertension. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2008;35(3):489-500.
- Domino FJ, et al. Overview of hypertension in adults. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
- Ong KL, et al. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among United States adults 1999-2004. Hypertension. 2007;49(1):69-75.
- Polycystic kidney disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/polycystic/. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
- Glomerulonephritis. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozPrint.cfm?id=65 Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
- Bilateral hydronephrosis. University of Maryland Medical Center. http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000474all.htm. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
- ATA hypothyroidism booklet. American Thyroid Association. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Hypothyroidism%20_web_booklet.pdf. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
- Hyperthyroidism. American Thyroid Association. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Hyper_brochure.pdf. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
- Hyperparathyroidism. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/hyper/hyper.htm. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
- What is preeclampsia? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/issues/preg/preclamp.htm. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
