10 symptoms of high blood pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a very common condition. Modern lifestyles around the world help to increase the levels of stress, obesity and sedentarism, which are major causes of high blood pressure. Your blood pressure is shown using systolic (pressure when your heart beats) and diastolic (pressure between heart beats) figures, and is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Normal: 120 / 80 mmHg or lower. At risk (pre-hypertension): 120–139 / 80–89 mmHg. High risk: 140 / 90 mmHg or higher. It's possible to have high blood pressure without even knowing it, because of a lack of periodic medical check-ups and absence of symptoms. However, people who do experience high blood pressure symptoms usually have one or more of the following: 1 Irregular heartbeat. An irregular heartbeat, or commonly referred to as palpitations, can be defined as the feeling that the heart is beating faster than usual. The patient usually says that their heart is pounding or racing, which can also produce the sensation that it is "skipping" some beats. Irregular heartbeats are more common when the blood pressure is higher than 140/90 mmHg because the heart must work harder and faster to push the blood into the blood vessels and maintain a proper blood supply to the entire body tissues. More symptoms on next page... 2 Pounding in the neck or ears. Many patients with chronic hypertension can refer a constant pounding in the neck or ears. This symptom usually indicates that blood pressure is higher than usual. This pounding is caused by the increased force that the heart must perform to pump the blood through the arteries, so the patient feels the resistance that the blood vessels offer to the blood flow. More symptoms on next page... 3 Vision problems. Vision problems are considered more of a consequence than a symptom of hypertension. Vision problems occur because the chronic high levels of blood pressure can cause damage to the tiny and delicate blood vessels that carry blood to the different parts of the eye. One of the main problems is retinopathy, which is the damage caused in the retina. Retinopathy can be very serious if not treated early. In extreme circumstances the patient can experience a complete loss of vision. Another is the choroidopathy, which can be defined as an abnormal fluid accumulation under the retina. Finally, hypertension can also cause optic neuropathy, which is the damage of the optic nerve. 4 Headache. The relation between high blood pressure and headaches is controversial. Some experts say that hypertension can cause a chronic headache that is more common in the mornings, which can go from mild to moderate intensity, and it can be oppressive. Usually, the patient refers to it as "something is pressing my head". However, a recent study published by the American Heart Association (AHA), says that people with hypertension are less prone to suffer from recurring headaches. This study also shows that a headache in a hypertensive person must be considered as an alarm sign because this symptom is related to a hypertensive crisis or malignant hypertension. A hypertensive crisis is defined as the elevation of blood pressure over 180/110 mmHg (very high). This also increases the pressure inside the cranium and produces a headache that is different from other types of migraines or headaches the patient has had experienced before and it does not relieve with current painkillers. This is why the AHA experts recommend visiting a doctor immediately if a hypertensive patient has a severe headache. 5 Chest pain. Although people with chronic hypertension can experience mild chest pain associated with palpitations, it is a symptom that must never be ignored, especially if it is severe or the patient also experiences sweating, shortness of breath and nausea. Chest pain can be a sign of heart disease or even a heart attack, so when a hypertensive person refers chest pain, it is very important to seek medical attention, even if the pain comes and goes. 6 Confusion. Confusion can be defined as the lack of order or clarity in a person’s ideas or activities. This symptom is more closely related to the hypertensive crisis than chronic hypertension. It is important to know that this is not a common symptom, so it's recommended to visit a doctor as soon as possible. 7 Breathing difficulties. Breathing difficulties are usually caused by a heart disease, so when a hypertensive person has this symptom they must visit a cardiologist in order to determine the problem. Early on, breathing difficulties normally only appear when the patient has performed strenuous exercise, but in advanced stages of heart disease, it can happen even if the patient performs their regular daily activities. 8 Sexual dysfunction. Although this symptom is more common and evident in men, women can also experience sexual dysfunction due to chronic hypertension. This occurs because chronic levels of high blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels in the sexual organs, which can decrease sex drive. In men, the volume of blood that flows to the penis during intercourse to produce the erection is reduced. 9 Nosebleeds or blood in the urine. These symptoms also indicate a hypertensive crisis, so the patient must immediately seek medical attention to decrease their blood pressure and avoid more severe complications such as a hemorrhagic stroke. 10 No symptoms. As it was said before, most people do not experience any symptom or sign of high blood pressure, so hypertension is diagnosed as a casual find during routine medical consultation, or when it is too late and the patients have experienced further consequences of this condition, like a stroke or a heart attack. Because of this, high blood pressure is considered by the American Heart Association as a "silent killer". It is very important to know that even when the patient has no symptoms, high blood pressure can cause severe damage to certain vital organs, like the kidneys and the heart, so prevention and timely diagnosis are the keys to avoid complications. To finish... Periodically visiting a doctor helps to keep an eye on blood pressure levels, and it also helps to detect this condition early when it can be easily controlled. Likewise, if you have more than one of these symptoms, or a sedentary or stressful lifestyle, consult your doctor to ensure there are no underlying problems. Preventing a disease is better than treating it, so having a healthy lifestyle, exercising at least 4 times a week, eating a balanced and low salt diet and avoiding stressful situations can help to reduce the risk of developing primary hypertension. For more information, read our article on the causes of high blood pressure...

1 Irregular heartbeat

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