Elevated blood pressure doesn't cause symptoms. The only way to detect it is to keep track of your blood pressure readings. Have your blood pressure checked at each doctor's visit — or check it at home with a home blood pressure monitoring device.

Any factor that increases pressure against the artery walls can lead to elevated blood pressure. The buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries (atherosclerosis) can lead to high blood pressure.

Besides atherosclerosis, other conditions that can lead to elevated blood pressure or high blood pressure include:

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Kidney disease
• Adrenal disease
• Thyroid disease

Certain medications — including birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs — also can cause blood pressure to rise temporarily. Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, can have the same effect.

Risk factors for elevated blood pressure include:

• Being overweight or obese. The greater your body mass, the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. As the amount of blood going through your blood vessels increases, so does the force on your artery walls.
• Age. Younger adults are more likely to have elevated blood pressure than are older adults because the risk of hypertension increases as you age. So many older adults have progressed beyond elevated blood pressure to hypertension. Even children can develop elevated blood pressure, especially if they're overweight or obese.
• Sex. High blood pressure is more common in men than in women through about age 55. Women are more likely to develop high blood pressure after age 55.
• Race. High blood pressure is particularly common among people of African heritage, often developing at an earlier age than it does in white people.
• Family history of high blood pressure. If a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, has high blood pressure, you're more likely to develop the condition.
• Not being physically active. Not exercising can increase your risk of high blood pressure and increase your risk of being overweight.
• Diet high in salt (sodium) or low in potassium. Sodium and potassium are two key nutrients in the way your body regulates your blood pressure. If you have too much sodium or too little potassium in your diet, you're more likely to have high blood pressure.
• Tobacco use. Smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco or being around others who smoke (secondhand smoke) can increase your blood pressure.
• Drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol use has been associated with increased blood pressure, particularly in men.
• Certain chronic conditions. Kidney disease, diabetes and sleep apnea, among others, can increase the risk of elevated blood pressure.

Although elevated blood pressure and high blood pressure are most common in adults, children can be at risk, too. For some children, kidney or heart problems can cause high blood pressure. But for a growing number of kids, poor lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of exercise, contribute to elevated blood pressure and high blood pressure.

Elevated blood pressure is likely to worsen and develop into hypertension. Hypertension can damage your organs and increase the risk of several conditions including a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, aneurysms and kidney failure.