Below, you’ll find must-know information about high blood pressure (hypertension).
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition in which the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently elevated. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
This condition is known to cause serious health issues such as cardiovascular disease.
High blood pressure is also commonly referred to as the “silent killer” due to the fact that you may not be aware that anything is wrong, yet internal damage occurs which is silently threatening your health.
This condition can be very dangerous if left untreated for a prolonged length of time. In some cases, it can be deadly or life-threatening.
Blood pressure measurements consist of two numbers. The systolic pressure (top value) measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts. The diastolic pressure (lower value) indicates the arterial pressure between heartbeats.
A blood pressure reading of 120/80 is considered the optimal normal range. However, readings of 130/90 and above put you in the hypertensive territory.
High blood pressure can exist without symptoms for years. Uncontrolled hypertension raises the risk of significant health complications, such as heart attack and stroke.
In some cases, it may even result in kidney damage or failure, vision loss, erectile dysfunction, or memory loss.
Regular monitoring of your blood pressure and consulting with your doctor are just some ways to avoid and control high blood pressure.
Here are the various critical high blood pressure symptoms and signs you should know about.
6. Severe Headache
Only during an acute hypertensive crisis can hypertension appear to cause headaches.
A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency because it can cause life-threatening complications such as kidney damage, a heart attack, memory loss, and a stroke.
A hypertensive crisis occurs when blood pressure surpasses 180/120 mm Hg, which is definitely a dangerous condition to be in.
If your blood pressure is at least 180/120 mm Hg, you must wait five minutes before taking another reading.
If your headache persists and your blood pressure remains elevated, contact your healthcare provider immediately for help.
5. Vision Loss
Individuals with unchecked high blood pressure may eventually experience blurred vision and loss of sight due to blood vessel damage (retinopathy) or fluid buildup under the retina (choroidopathy).
Prolonged unchecked high blood pressure can result in retinal damage. Retinal damage impairs your retina’s functionality, thereby resulting in distorted vision.
In some cases, scarring also happens thereby impairing a person’s vision.
It is also important to note that individuals having a sudden, acute increase in systemic blood pressure may also experience vision loss or impaired vision. Episodes like this should be treated as a life-threatening hypertensive emergency.
4. Shortness Of Breath
If a patient has cardiovascular issues brought on by high blood pressure, he or she can be gasping for air.
Shortness of breath is experienced when climbing stairs or after doing some physical activities.
Shortness of breath is a symptom of pulmonary hypertension, a condition when there is an increase in pressure in the pulmonary circulation.
People with pulmonary hypertension have restricted or clogged lung arteries.
This affects the system designed to provide pure, oxygenated blood to the left side of the heart and eventually to the rest of the body.
3. Nosebleed
Several studies have shown a connection between high blood pressure and nosebleeds.
According to one research, those with hypertension are more likely to get nosebleeds that may need medical treatment than those with normal blood pressure.
The likelihood of nosebleeds rose by 47% if the patient has high blood pressure. Hence, the severity of the bleeding in patients with high blood pressure was increased.
They were 2.7 times more likely to get emergency department treatment,
Although it is uncommon for hypertension to be the cause of nosebleeds, it is more challenging to stop a nosebleed if the patient is hypertensive.
2. Severe Anxiety
Some people have feelings of anxiety when their blood pressure is high. Those who have high blood pressure could worry about their future and health.
Anxiety does not result in chronic high blood pressure (hypertension). However, anxiety episodes can cause sudden, rapid rises in blood pressure.
Quick blood pressure spikes and persistently high blood pressure have the potential to injure the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys if they occur regularly.
People who are anxious or stressed are also more likely to engage in risky habits that might raise blood pressure, such as drinking and smoking.
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