Endocrine & metabolic · UKMLA & AKT
Essential (primary) hypertension
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
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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