Download More about Hypertension Hypertension may also be caused by a

More about Hypertension
Hypertension may also be caused by a brain tumour, a stroke or
poliomyelitis. It may result from the excess hormones secreted during
abnormal functioning of the outer substance-cortex-of the adrenal glands
(Cushing's syndrome; aldosteronism), from the excess hormones from
pheochromo Cytoma, a tumour of the inner substance-medulla-of the
adrenal glands, or from the excess hormones by pituitary tumours; Again,
treatment is of the underlying condition.
Hypertension of an unknown cause, called essential hypertension, may be
familial. It is said to affect women more often than men. The systolic
pressure continues to increase as the affected person grows older. The
diastolic pressure rises until middle age. Essential hypertension is
sometimes treated by administration of gunaethidine sulfate, which
lowers the blood pressure by its effect upon the sympathetic nervous
system.
Hypertension of the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood from the right
side of the heart to the lungs, is most commonly caused by lung disease,
which may also bring about right-sided heart failure. Treatment is
directed toward alleviation or cure of the lung and heart conditions.
Portal hypertension, abnormally high blood pressure in the portal vein,
which delivers venous blood to the liver, is caused by back pressure from
any obstruction of flow from the liver into hepatic vein, itself a tributary
of the inferior Vena Cava, which empties into the right atrium-upper
chamber-of the heart.
The obstruction may be disease in the liver, obstruction of the hepatic
vein, or any condition of the heart or the lungs that interferes with the
heart's reception of venous blood. The basic treatment is of the
underlying condition.
One possible complication of portal hypertension is serious bleeding from
varicose veins in the gullet, or osesophagns. (these veins empty into the
portal vein). The bleeding is stopped by emergency measures, blood
volume is restored by transfusion and recurrence of bleeding is
sometimes avoided by the creation of a shunt between the portal vein and
the Vena Cava or one of its tributes.
One type of hypertension was called malignant because of its failure to
respond to any treatment devised before 1973. In that year successful
treatment of 11 cases was reported.
The drugs used include minoxidil, a Vaso dilator that had not been
released for prescription use.