Secondary hypertension is a condition in which the cause of the high blood pressure is known (e.g., sleep apnea or some forms of kidney or endocrine disease). The high blood pressure is secondary to another disease or disorder, and usually disappears once the underlying condition is controlled or cured. These underlying conditions include:

Other factors that could cause secondary hypertension include:

• Pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension). Pregnancy can worsen the hypertension of women who already have it, or cause hypertension in women with no history of it. After the delivery, the high blood pressure tends to resolve in women with no prior history of it. However, women who developed pregnancy–induced hypertension have a higher risk of high blood pressure and stroke later in life.
  
  
• Certain medications. Prescription medications that can cause temporarily high blood pressure include certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and estrogen (in either oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy). Over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can cause the same effect include NSAIDS (e.g., ibuprofen or naproxen), cold, cough and sinus medications and many eye drops.
  
  
• Cocaine use. Not only can cocaine cause blood pressure to rise sharply, it can also cause heart attack and stroke in healthy people of any age.
  
  
• Long-term overuse of alcohol, caffeine or real licorice, which contains a steroid-like substance.
  
  
• Smoking.
  
  
• Stress.
  
  
• Very strenuous exercise, especially lifting heavy weights (temporarily, while straining).
  
  
• Exposure to lead, particularly among middle-aged and postmenopausal women.