High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition where the blood pressure is continuously above the normal level, usually above 120 mm Hg. It can be caused by lack of physical activity, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, and high salt intake.
Not good, not good at all. This is a huge health problem. Every year, 7.6 million people die from hypertension, and it contributes to two big killers- stroke and coronary heart disease.
High blood pressure is not as easy to detect as other conditions, as it isn’t symptomatic, so you won’t know you have it until you are at the critical stage. High blood pressure is called the “silent killer,” and if left untreated can spiral into worse health complications including heart attack and stroke. The best way to detect high blood pressure is with regular check-ups and doctor appointments.
High blood pressure can sneak up on you. It’s easy to say you’re immune because your symptoms are so subtle. But there are actually 8 signs of high blood pressure that should not be overlooked.
1. Loss of Vision
Hypertension can result in vision loss, such as blurry or complete blindness. The major reason for this symptom is hypertensive retinopathy. If someone with high blood pressure doesn’t take care of it, they will damage the retina and cause bleeding in their eyes, which leads to blurry vision, complete blindness, and many other serious health issues.
Loss of vision can be caused by choroidopathy, a condition in which fluid builds up under the retina. If you’re experiencing distorted vision or impaired vision, talk to your doctor right away.
2. Memory Loss
High blood pressure can have a negative effect on your brain. When researchers studied the effects, they found that people with high blood pressure had less blood flow to the parts of their brain responsible for memory.
To prevent fuzzy memory and confusion, your brain needs a constant blood supply. It is important to keep the flow of this blood going to the brain, or it will be unable to function properly. When blood flow is disrupted, cognitive function drops dramatically, causing memory loss and confusion.
High blood pressure is a silent killer with long-lasting consequences. If left untreated, it can lead to dementia and a stroke. It’s very important to monitor your blood pressure and to take care of yourself. If you happen to have raised blood pressure, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor.
3. Swollen Feet, Legs, and Abdomen
Edema is one of the symptoms of high blood pressure and can be a sign of impending heart failure if left untreated. It is characterized by abnormal swellings in the ankles, legs, or lungs and caused by pulmonary hypertension. People with this type of edema should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The condition narrows and blocks the pulmonary arteries, restricting the flow of blood to the lungs. This causes the heart to have to work harder as it forces oxygen-rich blood to continue moving. The buildup in pressure causes swelling in the ankles or legs. In some cases, the condition can cause the right heart ventricle to overwork itself to heart failure, leading to death.
4. Pains in the chest
When the signs of angina are present, it is not just a pain in the chest. Angina is an early sign of an impending heart attack. This is when the heart has to work harder than usual because high blood pressure has caused plaque to build up in the coronary arteries. This plaque deprives the heart of needed oxygen and nutrients.
One way to avoid a heart attack is to get proper treatment for high blood pressure. Without treatment, it will eventually lead to damage to the heart’s arteries and result in a heart issues.
Besides chest pain, other symptoms include shortness of breath, numbness, back pain, or nausea.
5. Frequent Urination
The condition known as nocturia is when people wake up to urinate 2-6 times during the night. This symptom may be linked to high blood pressure, and studies have shown that waking up in the night to use the restroom could be associated with a 40% higher chance of having high blood pressure.
High blood pressure causes your kidneys to work less because they can’t get enough blood to them. This makes it difficult for them to pee during the day. But at night, when your blood pressure decreases and all that water isn’t being prevented from flowing back into your body, you urinate more.
It is important to note that there are many other causes of nocturia, including excess fluid in the body and high salt intake. Hematuria can also be a sign of high blood pressure.
6. Headache
A headache could be an indication of high blood pressure. There is very little evidence to suggest this, but it’s true for some people. High blood pressure can cause the blood vessels in the brain to swell, which triggers a headache. This is called hypertensive crisis and occurs when their blood pressure suddenly goes up, to 180/120 mm Hg or higher.
Ah, you have a headache. The pain probably comes with nausea, chest pain, and blurred vision. This isn’t something you can take some remedies for! It’s important to call 911 or contact your doctor if you’re experiencing a hypertensive crisis.
7. Abdominal Pain
High blood pressure can increase the pressure levels on the aorta walls (the largest blood vessel in the body, which runs from the heart through the chest and abdomen), increasing the chance of formation of an aneurysm.
Ah, the abdominal aortic aneurysm. The condition is marked by the swelling or enlargement of the aorta in the abdomen. As the aneurysm enlarges, you’ll start experiencing severe stomach pains, pulse near the naval area, and loss of consciousness. This can be a life-threatening condition if it ruptures. While it’s not problematic in some cases, an abdominal aortic aneurysm can be life-threatening if it ruptures.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a serious issue that needs to be detected early to prevent complications.
8. Fatigue
Ugh, you’re tired. It might be time to take it easy on yourself. An elevated blood pressure is a common symptom of a few different things, and feeling tired is one of the side effects. When your blood pressure is high, you may experience irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath, and general weakness, which can contribute to feeling exhausted.
High blood pressure can cause a lot of damage to organs, leading to serious conditions such as kidney failure or coronary artery disease that can leave you feeling exhausted. If you’re experiencing any symptoms of high blood pressure, make an appointment with your doctor to get it checked out and start treatment early.