Very often, no cause that could be responsible for the hypertension is found - this is known as essential hypertension. It is not uncommon for it to be present in other people in the family.
We need to take all these patients under our care and treat them so that their blood pressure returns to normal, i.e. below 14/9.
Atherosclerosis, with its deposits of atherosclerotic plaque on artery walls, makes them rigid, so they don't dilate properly and pressure in the vessels increases.
Older people's arteries age and become less flexible, so their blood pressure may be higher than normal.
A healthy lifestyle: a sedentary lifestyle, a rich diet, overweight or obesity, diabetes, smoking and hypertension all contribute to cardiovascular disease and its complications.
Stress, against which it is to some extent possible to fight, is also a risk factor for hypertension.