Secondary hypertension is defined by which of the following?

• A. Idiopathic
• B. Environmental lifestyle factors only
• C. Endogenous pain and stress
• D. Renal, vascular, and endocrine causes

Answer: (D)

Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure caused by an identifiable underlying condition. The classic sources are renal, vascular, and endocrine disorders, where a specific disease process drives the elevated pressure. Examples include kidney disease or renovascular problems affecting the kidneys, vascular conditions like coarctation of the aorta, and hormonal disorders such as pheochromocytoma, Cushing syndrome, or hyperaldosteronism. This makes the hypertension secondary to a treatable underlying cause, unlike primary hypertension, which has no single identifiable source. Choices that point to an idiopathic origin, lifestyle factors alone, or transient stress do not describe a defined pathophysiologic cause of sustained high blood pressure.