Have a patient with hypertension? Then ensure you do a thorough workup when they first present symptoms.

In patients with hypertension, it’s important to assess for secondary causes of hypertension, especially in cases of early-onset, resistant or severe hypertension. Secondary causes may include renal artery stenosis, primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, Cushing’s syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. 

A thorough history and physical examination, as well as targeted laboratory and imaging studies, can help identify these underlying conditions. Simply look up the workup for each condition above as it is straightforward to do. Early detection and management of secondary causes can improve blood pressure control and reduce the risk of complications associated with hypertension.