Endocrine & metabolic · UKMLA & AKT
Essential (primary) hypertension
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise essential (primary) hypertension — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Essential hypertension = chronically elevated BP with no identifiable underlying cause; accounts for ~90% of hypertension cases
- Largely asymptomatic - most detected incidentally
Young age (<40), treatment-resistant hypertension, or hypokalaemia + metabolic alkalosis = always consider a secondary cause. Primary hyperaldosteronism is the most common secondary cause (~5-10% of all hypertensives).
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