• Exact causes of high blood pressure are not known. Hypertension can be categorised into two types, each type has a different cause.
• Primary hypertension (essential hypertension): This type of blood pressure usually takes many years to develop and probably is a result of lifestyle, environment, and age.
• Lifestyle -sedentary lifestyle
• Environment - poor diet, stress
• Age - More common after 50 years of age
• Secondary hypertension: High blood pressure caused due to health problem or certain medications.
• Family history may increase the risk for primary hypertension.
• High salt intake or salt sensitivity
• Smoking
• Overweight or obesity
• Lack of physical activity
• Too much of alcohol consumption
• Stress
• Age - above 50 years
• Factors which may cause secondary hypertension include:
• Diabetes
• Kidney problems
• Sleep apnoea
• Thyroid or adrenal gland problems
• Birth control pills

After a prolonged period, untreated high blood pressure can cause heart disease and related complications such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

Other complications include:

• Fluid build up in the lungs
• Vision loss
• Kidney damage
• Erectile dysfunction
• Memory loss