Hypertension Symptoms

Introduction

Having high blood pressure, or hypertension, is a medical condition. Two digits represent the reading of one's blood pressure. The systolic number is the highest, and the diastolic number is the lowest. For example, 120/80 mmHg signifies that the systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) pressures are 120 and 80, respectively.

A lack of treatment for high blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to more serious health issues, including heart disease and stroke, kidney failure, and even death.

The following are the most common symptoms of high blood pressure

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Physical Symptoms

1. Excessive sweating

You may sweat a lot, but it can be hard to tell if it's a symptom of high blood pressure. Your sweating may not be as obvious as someone else's, who might sweat through their shirts or socks.

2. Dizziness

Dizziness is also common in people who have high blood pressure. But again, it can be difficult to determine whether this symptom is related to your high blood pressure or another medical condition that you have.

3. Headaches

Headaches are a symptom of hypertension, and the risk of developing them increases as your blood pressure rises. The headaches may be dull or throbbing, and they can be brought on by stress, anxiety, or even physical exertion such as exercise or sex.

The good news is that many people who have high blood pressure can reduce their risk of headaches by taking medications called beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. These drugs help lower your blood pressure and also prevent headaches.

4. Fatigue

Fatigue is another common symptom of high blood pressure and can also be related to other conditions such as sleep apnea, depression, or anemia. If you notice yourself feeling tired all the time even after getting adequate rest at night, it's important to talk with your doctor about these symptoms right away. Your doctor might consider testing your iron levels if they aren't found to be low already; iron deficiency is a common cause of fatigue in adults over age 50.

5. Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath is common among people with hypertension. This symptom can occur when your heart has to work harder to pump blood through your body due to high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

6. Difficulty sleeping

High blood pressure can cause sleep apnea, which makes it difficult for you to breathe while asleep, according to the AHA. The AHA recommends seeing a doctor if you have trouble breathing while asleep more than three times per week.

7. Chest pain

Chest pain is another possible sign of hypertension because high blood pressure puts extra pressure on your heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle).

8. Nausea

It can be caused by a variety of things, including illness, overindulgence in food and alcohol, stress, motion sickness, and altitude sickness. However, nausea caused by hypertension is often more intense than other types of nausea.

Nausea is often associated with vomiting and abdominal pain, which are also symptoms of hypertension. Nausea can be caused by many different types of drugs. These include diuretics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics.

9. Blurred vision

Blurred vision is another symptom of high blood pressure that occurs in the eye itself, rather than in the brain or eyesight. It can cause temporary vision loss that feels like a film or fog over your eyesight. Blurred vision can occur when you're looking at objects up close or far away from you − but it's usually worse when looking at something far away than up close.

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Emotional Symptoms

1. Anxiety

Anxiety is the symptom of high blood pressure, and it's also the most common reason why people don't seek treatment for their high blood pressure. In fact, anxiety is a symptom of several other conditions as well, so it's not always easy to tell if you're experiencing anxiety or something else. Anxiety can manifest itself in a variety of ways and can affect different people in different ways.

2. Irritability

Irritability is a typical symptom of hypertension, but it doesn't always present itself right away − it can take years after your condition begins before you notice that you're more irritable than usual. People who are diagnosed with hypertension usually experience irritability during stressful situations at work or home, which can exacerbate their condition and make it worse over time.

3. Depression

Depression is an ordinary symptom of high blood pressure, and studies have found that it can lead to worse outcomes in high blood pressure patients. The depression may be caused by the high blood pressure itself or by other factors, such as stress and anxiety.

4. Mood swings

A person with high blood pressure may exhibit sudden mood changes, ranging from mild irritability to uncontrollable anger. This may be an indication that the person has an underlying medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes. Mood swings caused by these conditions can be treated with lifestyle changes, medications, and therapy.

5. Memory problems

The next sign of high blood pressure is often memory problems. This can be one of the first symptoms of hypertension, or it can occur later. The problem is that memory loss is a common problem among older people and is often attributed to normal aging. It's important to know that there are other causes for memory issues, including high blood pressure.

6. Trouble concentrating

High blood pressure can also cause trouble concentrating, which may affect your ability to concentrate on tasks at work or school. In fact, studies have shown that people with high blood pressure often have trouble doing simple tasks like reading or listening to a lecture. This is because high blood pressure can interfere with your brain's ability to get oxygen-rich blood delivered throughout your brain so you can concentrate and learn new information effectively.

It's critical that you consult a doctor as soon as possible if you have any of these signs. Although hypertension can be life-threatening, it is also treatable.

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Conclusion

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is important to speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Hypertension can lead to more serious health problems, such as heart disease and stroke, so it is important to get it under control.

FAQs

1. What is hypertension?

Having high blood pressure in the arteries is known as hypertension. When your heart pumps blood throughout your body, the force it exerts against the artery walls is known as blood pressure. There are two numbers used to represent blood pressure, such as 120/80 mm Hg.

You'll see the first number, systolic pressure, which is the maximum pressure in your artery during the contraction of your heart muscle (beats). It is the diastolic pressure, the lowest pressure in your artery between heartbeats, that determines your risk of heart disease. High blood pressure is defined as readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher.

2. What causes hypertension?

Hypertension does not have one specific cause but can be caused by multiple factors including−

Obesity: Being overweight increases the risk of developing hypertension. Extra weight puts extra stress on the heart and makes it work harder than normal to pump blood throughout the body.

Stress: Stress can trigger an increase in activity in certain areas of your brain that control blood vessels and heart rate, causing them to narrow blood flow. Stress may also cause you to make unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as eating unhealthy foods or not getting enough sleep.

3. How do high blood pressure symptoms manifest?

There are no signs or symptoms of high blood pressure. If you don't get your blood pressure tested by a doctor or nurse, you may not know you have it. Starting at the age of 18, getting your blood pressure checked at least once every two years is the only way to find out if you have excessive blood pressure.

4. How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

Your doctor will check your medical history and perform a physical exam before making a diagnosis of high blood pressure. To confirm this diagnosis, he or she will order a blood test called an electrocardiogram (ECG) that measures the electrical activity of your heart (heart rate). This test can detect underlying conditions such as coronary artery disease that may be causing hypertension. Finally, if needed, your doctor may order another test called an echocardiogram that uses sound waves to evaluate how well your heart is functioning.

5. How is high blood pressure treated?

The first line of treatment for hypertension is lifestyle changes such as losing weight if you are overweight, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking. If these measures don't work or aren't possible for you, medications may be prescribed to lower your blood pressure to normal levels. In some cases, surgery may also be needed to remove excess body fluid or repair an artery damaged by high blood pressure.