How can essential hypertension be characterized?

Essential hypertension is characterized by having no identifiable cause, making the correct choice the one that highlights this feature. Unlike secondary hypertension, which can be linked to specific conditions such as kidney disease or endocrine disorders, essential hypertension occurs without an apparent reason. It is the most common form of hypertension and is thought to result from a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

The misconception that essential hypertension is caused by kidney disease would apply to secondary hypertension instead. While hypertension can be associated with heart disease, essential hypertension is not always secondary to it, as it can exist independently of heart issues. Lastly, being restricted to older adults is inaccurate, since essential hypertension can affect individuals of various ages, although its prevalence may increase with age. Thus, the defining characteristic of essential hypertension is indeed its lack of a known cause.