There are two kinds of hypertension: "essential (primary)" and "secondary” hypertension. The cause of essential hypertension is not known, it appears thanks to genetics (there are close relatives who suffered from it) or due to lifestyle. Essential hypertension is more common than secondary one.

About 10% of people suffer from secondary hypertension. Usually when the cause is removed, blood pressure became normal.

It appears as a result of the health’s disorders, such as:
* Problems connected with the adrenal gland (tumors, the organs of small size, which are situated above the kidneys, whose function is to produce hormones), Cushing's syndrome (it is caused by an overproduction of cortisol), hyperaldosteronism (the availability of aldosterone is high); and pheochromocytoma (a rare tumor which leads to oversecretion of hormones such as adrenaline)

* Problems connected with kidneys (polycystic kidney illness, kidney tumor, kidney failure, or the narrowing or blockage of the main artery which supplies the kidney)

* The intake of certain drugs (among them there are corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone), nonsteroidal (anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin or Aleve or Naprosyn), inhibitors (Bextra and Vioxx, whichare not sold anymore, and Celebrex), weight loss drugs (like Meridia and Ephedra –it is banned nowadays), cold medications (they contain pseudoephedrine such as Sudafed), birth control pills (because of the estrogen) and migraine medications (like Imitrex)
      Vioxx is not sold anymore since September 2004 because it is expected to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Since April 7, 2005 Bextra and Celebrex are banned. Celebrex increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and it can cause stomach bleeding, the information about the possible consequences is given on the label. 

* Sleep apnea (when a sleeping person stops breathing for some time of short duration). About half of patients, who suffer from it, have hypertension.

* Coarctation of the aorta (when the aorta is narrower than it should be, such state of the aorta leads to high blood pressure in arms, the defect is born.) 

* Preeclampsia (connected with pregnancy)

* Thyroid and parathyroid problems

* Pregnancy

* Use of birth control pills

* Alcohol addiction