The causes of hypertension are unknown in 95% of patients. In 5% of cases, some conditions may be responsible, such as kidney disease, atherosclerosis and hormonal imbalance. Other risk factors of hypertension include diabetes, obesity and a strong family history of the disease.
It is important to understand that blood pressure varies throughout the day depending on what you are doing. For example, when exercising, feeling stressed or in pain, your blood pressure increases temporarily for that duration. In these instances, there is no need for medical attention. Treatment is only needed if the blood pressure is always higher than normal.