What causes high systolic and diastolic blood pressure?
Disease description:
A relative of mine has hypertension. Recent tests revealed that both their systolic and diastolic blood pressures are elevated. Could you please explain what causes elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Man
Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures are elevated, suggesting primary (essential) hypertension as the likely cause. In such cases, oral antihypertensive medication is required for symptomatic management. Additionally, a thorough evaluation to identify any underlying etiology is essential. Most cases of hypertension are primary, with no identifiable cause; these require long-term, lifelong antihypertensive therapy. Secondary hypertension, by contrast, arises from other medical conditions—thus, it is important to investigate potential causes such as adrenal or renal disorders.
