Symptoms of High Blood Pressure sometime not felt by some one who had it. High blood pressure or commonly called as the hypertension. So, high blood pressure is the condition when the blood pressure higher than normal. A blood pressure that is less than 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. But, whenever you’re having the blood pressure above 140/90, you’re considered having the high blood pressure.
The common cause related the high blood pressure is still unclear at the moment. But, some medical conditions like kidney disease or heart disease could be the sign that you’re having the high blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure Risk Factor
There are many risk factors related to the high blood pressure, the risk factors are divided by 2, which are the risk factor that you couldn’t change and the risk factor that you can change.
The risk factor that you couldn’t change:
- Age: Older adult will be more likely to develop the high blood pressure.
- Gender: Women over 65 years old will be more likely to develop the high blood pressure.
- Race: African-American will be more likely to develop the high blood pressure.
- Family History: People who have the family members that have the high blood pressure will be more likely to develop the high blood pressure.
The risk factor that you could change:
- Being overweight
- Not having enough physical activity
- Drinking alcohol
- Eating the unhealthy diet
- Consuming excess salt.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
After you already know the definition of the high blood pressure and the risk factors of the high blood pressure, now it’s time for you to see the various symptoms of high blood pressure. Here are the symptoms of the high blood pressure.
1. Severe Headache
The first symptom of high blood pressure that could occur as the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is the severe headache. So, headache is the condition that causing the pain in the head. Sometimes, it could cause the tight band around the forehead, neck, or even in the back of the eyes.
Although most of people think that severe headache is the common condition and don’t need any medical treatment, but this symptom is also could be the sign of more serious medical conditions, including high blood pressure.
So, whenever you have the persistent headache and this headache always occur in a regular basis, alongside with the other symptoms that will be mentioned in this article, you need to see the medical treatment as soon as possible. The doctor then will prescribe you with the painkillers and over the counter medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve the pain of headache.
2. Severe Anxiety
The second symptom that also could be the sign that you’re having the high blood pressure is the anxiety disorder. Anxiety is very hard to describe, but in case you have the high blood pressure, the type of the anxiety is commonly classified as the hypochondriasis. So, whenever you have the anxiety just because you feel that there is something wrong with your health, you shouldn’t hesitate to share it with the health experts.
It is very important to know that the anxiety is an illness and thus, it can be cured with some psychological therapy or psychological advice. So, you need to seek the therapy sessions if you want to alleviate the feeling of anxiety in you. Also, curing the main problem of the anxiety, in this case is high blood pressure, could be done too to alleviate the anxiety feeling.
3. Nosebleed
The third symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is the nosebleed. Nosebleed is the condition whenever you’re experiencing that there is some bloods come out from the nose. There are many causes that can lead you to the nosebleed.
While the rare and infrequent nosebleed is not a danger at all, but whenever you’re having the persistent nosebleed on a regular basis, this could be the strong sign that you’re having the more serious medical conditions, including the high blood pressure.
So, whenever you’re having the nosebleed, especially the persistent one, alongside with the other symptoms of high blood pressure that will be mentioned in this section, you need to seek the medical attention as soon as possible to get the further treatment. But, you could also treat the nosebleed symptom in the home by following these tips:
- While sitting up, try to squeeze the soft part of your nose.
- Do not lie down whenever you want to stop the nosebleed.
- Use a nasal decongestion to close off the small blood vessels.
4. Dizziness
The fourth symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is the dizziness. So, dizziness is the condition that occurs whenever you feel the lightheaded, woozy, or unbalanced. Sometimes, in several occasions, dizziness could also lead you to fainting too. While you shouldn’t worry about the occasional dizziness, but whenever you’re having the persistent dizziness, you should call the doctor immediately as soon as possible.
You need to seek the medical treatment whenever you’re experiencing the persistent dizziness alongside with the other symptoms that will be mentioned in this article. The treatment of dizziness is depending on the underlying cause. So, whenever you’re having the dizziness because of the high blood pressure, the doctor would be likely various medications like beta-blockers, alpha-blockers, and the fluid pills.
5. Blurred Vision
The next symptoms that also could be the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is the blurred vision. So, blurred vision is the condition whenever you feel that someone put a filter over your eyes and you couldn’t see clear enough in everything. This blurred vision could occur because of the various medical conditions, such as high sugar level, stroke, and also, high blood pressure. So, you need to be aware whenever you’re having the blurred vision.
You should need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible since this blurred vision could be the sign of various medical conditions. The doctor then would do the treatment depends on the underlying cause related to this blurred vision. Same as the dizziness, if the blurred vision is caused by the high blood pressure, the doctor would be likely to give you the medications such as alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, or fluid pills.
6. Hypertensive Retinopathy
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is hypertensive retinopathy. So, hypertensive retinopathy is the condition whenever there are some damages in the retina’s blood vessels, which then could limit the retina’s function, and put pressure on the optical nerve, and then causing the vision problems. The damage in the retina’s blood vessels commonly caused by the high blood pressure.
So, whenever you’re experiencing the eye swelling, and then blurred vision with severe headache, bursting of a blood vessels, and other symptoms that will be mentioned in this article, you need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible. The common treatments related to hypertensive retinopathy are:
- Lifestyle change: including having regular physical activity, reducing salt intake, and limiting the amount of caffeine and alcohol, as well as quitting smoking.
- Taking medications such as beta-blockers, diuretics, or ACE inhibitors.
7. Aneurysm
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is the aneurysm. So, aneurysm is the disease that occurs when the artery’s wall weakens and then causes a large bulge that can cause the internall bleeding. The exact cause of the aneurysm is still unclear, though. But, many health experts say that the high blood pressure play the big part so that this condition could occur in the body.
So, whenever you’re having the high blood pressure, the pressure or force of the blood as it travels through tour blood vessels would be increased too and thus, it could enlarge or weaken the blood vessels. So, whenever you’re having the symptoms that will be mentioned in this article, you might have the aneurysm that caused by the high blood pressure.
The treatment of aneurysm commonly depends on the location of the weak area of a vessel in the body. The weak of the vessel in the chest and abdomen require the surgery called endovascular stent graft. The medications to treat high blood pressure could be inducted too.
8. Chronic Kidney Disease
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is the chronic kidney disease. So, chronic kidney disease is the progressive and irreversible destruction of the kidney. Whenever you’re having the chronic kidney disease, the kidney wouldn’t be able to perform the following functions:
- Maintain the balance between the electrolytes and minerals within your body.
- Excreting water-soluble wastes out of your body.
- Playing an essential part to the production of the red blood cells.
- Maintain the level of the acid and base within your blood.
In the matter of fact, the main cause why the chronic kidney disease could occur is because the high blood pressure. The dangerous thing is, this disease actually doesn’t have any symptoms until the part of the kidney start to destroyed.
So, whenever you’re suspected of having the high blood pressure and experiencing most of the symptoms that already mentioned in this article, you need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible to lower the pressure in the blood.
9. Swelling
The next symptom that you’re having the high blood pressure in the body is the swelling in certain organs in the body. So swelling is the condition when the organs, skin, or other parts of the body enlarge. Whenever you have the high blood pressure, you will be likely to suffer from the internal swelling, which is caused by the inflammation in the organs, fluid retention, or flatulence.
So, whenever you’re experiencing the symptoms such as the unexplained weight gain and then you feel the pain in the internal organ, alongside with most of the symptoms that will be mentioned in this article, you need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible. The treatments that you will get are:
- Taking over the counter medications to relieve the inflammation that caused swelling. A strong antihistamine would likely to prescribed by the doctor.
- The doctor will give you the medications to treat the main cause of the swelling. In case of swelling because of the high blood pressure, the doctor would prescribe you the medications such as beta-blockers or alpha-blockers.
- Lifestyle change, such as reducing the intake of salt, and keep the arms and leg above chest level when lying down.
10. Heart Attack
The next symptom that you will get whenever you’re having the high blood pressure is the heart attack. Basically, heart attack is the symptom that would appear if you left the high blood pressure untreated in the long time, so you could call this disease as the complication of high blood pressure. Heart attack is the condition when the rich oxygen-blood supply that normally could be sent into the heart is cut off and the heart muscle begin to die.
So, whenever you’re experiencing the heart attack, the doctor then would perform either the actual surgery or non-surgical treatment to relieve the pain of heart attack. Some treatments related to the heart attacks are:
- Taking the medications such as aspirin, anticoagulant, painkillers,nitroglycerin, and blood pressure medication.
- Bypass surgery or heart valve surgery.
- Having the pacemaker, which is inserting the device to help the heart maintain its normal rhythm.
- Having the heart transplant.
11. Heart Failure
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is the heart failure. Same as the heart attack, this disease is also classified as the complications from the high blood pressure. So, heart failure is the condition that commonly described as the heart’s inability to pump a sufficient amount of blood. As you all know, without the adequate amount of blood supply, the other parts of the body will be disrupted.
So, whenever you’re experiencing the symptoms like excessive fatigue, sudden weight gain, loss of appetite,persistent coughing, heart palpitation, abdominal swelling, shortness of breath, and leg or ankle swelling, you might have the heart failure. The treatments related to the heart failure are taking the medications to relieve the symptoms of the heart failure and also taking the surgery, such as coronary bypass surgery.
12. Massive Stroke
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is the massive stroke. This disease is also the complication that could occur whenever you left the high blood pressure untreated. So, stroke is the condition whenever the blood flow to the parts of the brain is interrupted. The high blood pressure of course will narrow the blood vessels which then will obstruct the blood flow the brain.
So, whenever you’re having the symptoms such as the nausea and vomiting, severe headache, confusion, and seizures, alongside with most of the symptoms that already mentioned in this article, you need to seek the medical treatments since those are the strong sign that you’re having the stroke. The doctor then will perform the treatments to dissolve the blood clots that causing the obstruction of the blood flow.
13. Atherosclerosis
The next symptom that could be the sign that you’re having the high blood pressure is the atherosclerosis. So, atherosclerosis is a narrowing of the arteries that caused by the build up of the plaques. Whenever you’re having the atherosclerosis, the build up of the plaques will restrict the blood flow in the arteries, which then of course preventing your organs to get the oxygenated blood to have the proper function. The symptoms of the atherosclerosis couldn’t be detected until the blockage occurs.
To protect yourself from the atherosclerosis, you need to protect yourself from the high blood pressure. So, it is recommended that you seek the medical treatments as soon as you feel many of the symptoms that already mentioned above. The common treatments related to atherosclerosis including the medications and surgery.
14. Glomerulonephritis
The next symptom that also could be the sign that you’re having the high blood pressure is the glomerulonephritis. So, the glomerulonephritis is the condition that occurs whenever there is the inflammation of the glomeruli, which are he structures in the kidneys that are made up of tiny blood vessels.
This glomerulonephritis could be acute or chronic. In case you have the glomerulonephritis because of the high blood pressure, you will be most likely to develop the acute or chronic glomerulonephritis.
Whenever you’re experiencing the symptoms of the high blood pressure that already mentioned above, it is a wise move to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible so that you wouldn’t suffer from the glomerulonephritis. But once you already have the glomerulonephritis, the common treatments related to this disease are:
- Taking the blood pressure medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors like captopril, lisinopril, and perindopril.
- Having the plasmapheresis, which is the process to reduce the immune-triggered inflammation.
- Reducing the amount of salt, protein, and potassium in the diet.
- Having the dialysis whenever you also develop the kidney failure.
The Symptoms of High Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women
After you already know the common symptoms that will occur in both men and women. In the article below you will find the symptoms of high blood pressure that could occur to the pregnant women.
- Preeclampsia
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the high blood pressure is the preeclampsia.So, preeclampsia is the condition that occurs when you’re pregnant and you have the high blood pressure and you have the excessive protein in the urine. This preeclampsia commonly occurs during the 20 weeks of pregnancy.Whenever you have the history of high blood pressure, you could possibly develop this disease whenever you’re pregnant.
It is really important to notice that the preeclampsia doesn’t have any apparent symptoms, but, whenever you’re experiencing something like persistent headache, sudden weight gain, blurred vision, and abnormal swelling in hands and feet during the pregnancy, you need to seek the medical attention as soon as possible. The mild preeclampsia could be treated by the following things:
- Bed rest.
- Reducing salt intake.
- Drinking more water.
- Taking the medications to lower the blood pressure.
- Premature Infant
The next symptom that also could occur in the pregnant women as the indication of having the high blood pressure is the premature infant or commonly called as the premature birth. So, premature birth is the condition that occurs whenever you’re having the labor before 37 weeks of gestation, because normally, pregnant women will have the labor in 37 to 42 weeks. In many cases, the main cause of the premature infants couldn’t be detected, but the mother who have the high blood pressure will be more likely to have the premature infants.
Premature infants indeed would put the baby at the higher risk of developing many medical damage, such as brain damage, blindness, hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and also, developmental delays. Whenever you’re having the premature infants, the team of the healthcare will healp you and your newborn baby immediately right after the labor. But, you could take care your baby on your own whenever the healthcare and the doctor already check and have the faith the baby can eat by mouth, breathe without support, maintain the body temperature and weight.
- Cesarean Delivery
The third symptom that could occur in the pregnant women as the sign that they have the high blood pressure is the cesarean delivery whenever they have the labor. So, the cesarean delivery is the labor process whenever the baby is surgically removed from the womb. In a vaginal birth. the baby travels through the birth canal during the labor and delivery. So, there are a lot of reasons why the doctor will perform the cesarean delivery to the pregnant women, which are:
- The labor has stalled.
- The mother have the infections, such as genital herpes or HIV.
- The mother’s birth canal is obstructed.
- The mother have the previous uterine surgery.
- The baby at the high risk in the health.
How to Treat and Prevent High Blood Pressure
So, after you already know all of the possible symptoms of the high blood pressure, you also need to know how to treat and prevent the high blood pressure so that you will be protected from this life-threatening condition. So, in the article below, we provide you with the various ways how to treat and how to stay away from the high blood pressure. Here are the things that you should do related to the high blood pressure.
- Eating Healthy Foods
The first thing that you should do to treat and prevent the high blood pressure is eating the healthy foods. In the matter of fact, eating the healthy foods would be very beneficial to lower the blood pressure. You need to eat the food that have low amounts of potassium and salt, you shouldn’t also consume the foods that contain protein excessively.
The foods that you need to consume to lower the blood pressure are: Whole grains, broccoli, carrots, apples, bananas, oranges, legumes, and fish which are rich in omega-3 fatty oils.
The foods that you need to avoid if you want to lower the blood pressure are: foods and drinks that have high amount of sugar, alcohol drink, red meat, and coconut oil.
- Having the Exercise
The next thing that you should do in order to lower the blood pressure is having the regular physical activity everyday. The physical activity such as walk for about 30 minutes, jogging, sports activities, cleaning the house, walking through the stairs would be very beneficial to get the blood pumping. Also, with the regular physicial activity, you would have the proper body weight and you can control the proper body weight. The proper body weight would also reduce the blood pressure levels and will protect you from the high blood pressure.
- Taking Medications
The next thing that you should do to lower the blood pressure and could protect you from the dangerous complications of having the high blood pressure is taking various medications. The medications that would be beneficial to treat the high blood pressure are:
- Fluid pills, which will expel the excessive sodium in the body.
- Beta-blockers, which will slow down the heartbeat.
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which will help to relax and narrow blood vessels.
- Alpha-blockers, which will cause the blood to flow freely by keeping the nerves from tightening the blood vessels.
- Calcium channel blockers, which will relax the blood cells.
Now you already know everything that you should know related to the high blood pressure, from the causes, symptoms, and the ways to treat and prevent it. Although this condition could lead you to various serious medical problems, but one thing that you should remember that this condition is totally preventable. You need to have the healthy habits if you want to stay away from this condition. So, stay healthy.