CPAP is an airway treatment using slight positive pressure during inhalation to increase the volume of inspired air and to decrease the work of breathing.
- Other medical conditions that contribute to temporary hypertension are pregnancy, cirrhosis, and Cushing's disease.
 | Click the icon to see an image of cirrhosis of the liver. |
Medications. Certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause temporary high blood pressure. They include:
- Corticosteroids.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, may cause secondary hypertension as well as other complications. In one important study, women who used an NSAID for 5 or more days a month had a significantly higher risk for hypertension. The more often they used them, the higher the risk. A 2005 study found that NSAIDs increase the risk for kidney failure, and that the risk is significantly greater for patients with hypertension. Patients who took diuretics along with NSAIDs had 11.6 times the risk of developing acute kidney failure compared to non-NSAID users. The relative risk for calcium channel blockers and NSAIDs was 7.8. The researchers advised that NSAIDs should be used with caution in patients with hypertension or heart failure.
- Cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine have also been found to increase blood pressure in hypertensive people, although they appear to pose no danger for those with normal blood pressure.
- Oral contraceptives ("the pill") increase the risk for high blood pressure, particularly in women who are older, obese, smokers, or some combination. Stopping the pill nearly always reduces blood pressure, although a recent study suggested that oral contraceptives may produce a small but significant increase in diastolic pressure that persists in some older women who have been off the pill for years.
Alcohol, Cigarettes, and Coffee
- An estimated 10% of hypertension cases are caused by alcohol abuse (three or more alcohol drinks a day), with heavier drinkers having higher pressure. Women may be more sensitive than men to the blood pressure effects of alcohol. Moderate drinking (one or two drinks a day) has benefits for the heart and may even protect against some types of stroke. In particular, red wine may have chemicals that help blood pressure.
- Smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor. One study reported that smokers have blood pressures up to 10 points higher than nonsmokers.
- Caffeine. In healthy people with normal blood pressure, drinking a couple of cups of coffee a day is unlikely to do any harm. A high intake of coffee may be harmful in people with hypertension and may even increase their risk for stroke.
Other Causes of Secondary High Blood Pressure
- Stress
- Intense workouts (snow shoveling, jogging, speed walking, tennis, heavy lifting, heavy gardening)
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