High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms, yet it occurs when the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high.1
What are the different types and underlying causes of hypertension?
Primary Hypertension:
- Also known as idiopathic or essential hypertension, is high blood pressure with no single identifiable cause and is considered multifactorial.2
- Most patients with hypertension have essential or primary hypertension.3
Unhealthy habits and certain circumstances put you at risk for essential primary hypertension. These include: 2
Age 65 and up
A high-salt diet
Excessive coffee consumption
Obesity
Limited physical activity
Secondary Hypertension:
- Causes of this type of high blood pressure include different medical conditions or a medication you’re taking.
Has at least one distinct cause that healthcare providers can identify. Common causes of secondary hypertension include:1
- Certain medications,
- Kidney disease,
- Obstructive sleep apnea,
- Primary aldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome),
- Renal vascular diseases (Renal artery stenosis).
What is the prevalence of hypertension?
An estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide have hypertension, most (two-thirds) living in low- and middle-income countries.4
Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide.4
An estimated 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware of their condition, fewer than 42% are diagnosed and treated, and only about 21% have their blood pressure under control.4
Prevalence of hypertension - global comparison (both sexes)a
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 40% of adults in Egypt have high blood pressure (hypertension), highlighting a significant public health concern.5
What are the signs and symptoms of hypertension?
Usually, high blood pressure causes no signs or symptoms. That’s why healthcare providers call it a “SILENT KILLER”. You could have high blood pressure for years and not know it.1
HYPERTENSION SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS4
Severe Headaches
Blurred vision
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Nausea & vomiting
Nosebleeds
Buzzing in the ears
Dizziness
Anxiety & Confusion
Abnormal heart rhythm
References
High Blood Pressure- Symptoms & Causes. Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4314-hypertension-high-blood-pressure; Last accessed: 11/05/2025.
What to Know About Essential Hypertension (Primary Hypertension). Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22024-primary-hypertension-formerly-known-as-essential-hypertension; Last accessed: 11/05/2025.
McEvoy JW, McCarthy CP, Bruno RM, Brouwers S, Canavan MD, Ceconi C, Christodorescu RM, Daskalopoulou SS, Ferro CJ, Gerdts E, Hanssen H. 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension. Eur Heart J. 2024 Aug 30;45(38):3912-4018. Available at: https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Elevated-Blood-Pressure-and-Hypertension; Last accessed: 13/05/2025.
Hypertension – WHO. Available at https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension; Last accessed: 11/05/2025.
Egypt. Hypertension profile. WHO. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/hypertension/hypertension-2023/hypertension_egy_2023.pdf?sfvrsn=ee261f20_4&download=true; Last accessed: 14/05/2025.
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