Hypertension or high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, and it is the number two cause of kidney failure in the US. Worldwide. Over 1 billion people have hypertension, and in the United States, 46% of adults over the age of 20 have high blood pressure. Yet only half of these hypertensive patients have their blood pressure under control. In order to solve a problem, you must first recognize if you have one. So today, I'm going to give you 10 high blood pressure symptoms you should never ignore.
What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure refers to the force that the blood in your vessels exerts on the walls of your arteries. For your blood pressure measurement, you're probably familiar with the two numbers. The top number or systolic blood pressure and the bottom number, diastolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure in your vessels when the heart is contracting or squeezing. The diastolic blood pressure refers to the pressure in your vessels when the heart is relaxed.
Blood Pressure Ranges
Normal Blood Pressure Numbers
Normal or healthy blood pressure is when that top number is less than 120 and that bottom number, the diastolic, is less than 80.
Elevated Blood Pressure Numbers
You have elevated blood pressure if the systolic is between 120 and 129, while the diastolic is still less than 80.
Stage One and Stage Two Hypertension
You have stage one hypertension if that top number is between 130 and 139 and, or the diastolic number is between 80 and 89. And you have stage two hypertension if the systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140, and if that diastolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 90 and then you have a whole hypertensive crisis if your blood pressure is 180 over 120.
Please watch my YouTube video on what causes hypertension to learn more. In order to be screened and monitored for hypertension, you should see your physician.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
So now, here at 10 symptoms of high blood pressure, you should never ignore. And make sure you pay attention to the last symptom, because it may be the most important.
1. Headache
When you have hypertension, a headache or even pounding in the ears can be a symptom. If you have hypertension, especially if it's very high, you can have elevated pressure pushing against the arteries within your brain. your brain. This can cause a headache or even a sensation of pounding in the ears.
2. Blurry Vision
Blurry vision or change in vision can also be a symptom of hypertension. In your eyes, you have a retina. They're at the back of your eyes and they have many, many, many small blood vessels. When you have very elevated blood pressure, especially chronically, then these vessels can be damaged or compromised and you can get something called hypertensive retinopathy. These tiny blood vessels in the backs of your eyes can even bleed and this can lead to blurry vision. You can also have increased pressure in your eyes related to hypertension, which can cause blurry vision. And if the blood flow to the retina happens to be compromised or even if it stops, then you can actually have a loss of vision.
Question: Have you been diagnosed with hypertension and in hindsight, you had symptoms but did not even realize that those were symptoms of high blood pressure? Please comment down below.
3. Fatigue
Fatigue or excess tiredness or even confusion can be symptoms of high blood pressure for many reasons. When you have hypertension, it can compromise your heart or the way that your heart pumps blood and oxygen flow to your body. This certainly can cause fatigue. You can also have a compromise of your lungs or the way that you oxygenate, which again, can cause fatigue. And certainly, you can have neurological symptoms related to the high blood pressure, again causing fatigue.
4. Chest Pain
Chest pain can certainly be a symptom of hypertension, as hypertension is a leading cause of heart attacks or heart failure. When you have very elevated blood pressure, it can compromise the blood flow to your coronary arteries or your heart arteries and it can lead to a heart attack or a myocardial infarction. If this happens, well certainly, you can have chest pain. So chest pain can be a symptom of high blood pressure you don't want to ignore.
5. Weakness
Weakness can certainly be a symptom of high blood pressure, especially if it is a focal weakness. Because that could be an indication that you've had a stroke or a cerebral vascular accident. Hypertension is the leading cause of strokes, so if you have facial drooping, arm weakness, and or leg weakness, that could mean that your high blood pressure has led to a stroke or neurological compromise.
6. Nausea
You can have nausea and, or vomiting as a symptom of hypertension. It can be for a number of reasons. You can become nauseated as a result of increased intracranial pressure. For example, if your high blood pressure has caused some of the vessels in your brain to erupt, then you can have a hemorrhagic stroke, which can cause increased pressure within your brain and that increased pressure can trigger nausea or vomiting. Also if your hypertension has caused you to have a heart attack, then one of the atypical symptoms of heart disease can be nausea and vomiting.
In order to learn ways to lower your blood pressure naturally, make sure you watch my YouTube video after you finish reading this.
(Video) 9 Signs Of High Blood Pressure You Should NEVER IGNORE
7. Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath could be a symptom of high blood pressure for many reasons. You can have shortness of breath due to a heart attack from high blood pressure. Shortness of breath due to pulmonary edema or excess fluid in the lungs, which can be related to elevated blood pressure. Also, you can get shortness of breath if hypertension has led to heart failure, which causes an inadequate pumping of the blood and leads to a backup of fluid in the lungs, again, pulmonary edema. So shortness of breath can be a symptom of high blood pressure you should never ignore.
8. Back Pain
That may sound odd, but yes, back pain can be a symptom of hypertension you should not ignore. High blood pressure can lead to an emergence, a very, very serious phenomenon called aortic dissection. That's when the aorta is compromised in a way where you start bleeding into the wall of the aorta and this can be fatal. Very elevated blood pressures can trigger aortic dissection. And one of the main symptoms of aortic dissection is back pain. So yes, back pain can be a symptom of high blood pressure you should absolutely never ignore.
9. Nose Bleeds
Albeit rare, a nose bleed can be a symptom of high blood pressure. You have many tiny blood vessels within your nasal airways and if you have elevated blood pressure, it can damage these vessels and when that pressure is high and that force against these arteries is great, it can cause you to have a nose bleed.
10. Nothing
Finally, symptom number ten is probably the most important symptom of hypertension that you should realize. Nothing. Most people actually have no symptoms whatsoever of hypertension. This is why they call hypertension the silent killer. So you can have extremely high blood pressure, even blood pressure in the 200's over 100's. And if your body has compensated, if you have become used to living with dangerously high blood pressures, then you could walk around with absolutely no symptoms whatsoever. The frightening thing about this is that a lot of people feel that because they don't have symptoms when their blood pressure is very high, they think that perhaps high blood pressure is what is normal for them. Well, I'm here to tell you, this could not be farther from the truth.
Even when your body has compensated and you are having no symptoms with your high blood pressure or elevated blood pressure, hypertension actually, can still cause damage. It can still cause kidney failure. It can still cause heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, and even death. So hypertension is not normal for anyone.
Follow Up with Your Physician
Be sure to follow up with your physician to learn your risk factors for hypertension and to be monitored. And if you have not done so already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and be sure to share this article with the people you care about.
FAQs
How does your body feel when your blood pressure is too high? ›
Unfortunately, high blood pressure can happen without feeling any abnormal symptoms. Moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, palpitations, or feeling of pulsations in the neck are some signs of high blood pressure.
What are some warning signs that blood pressure is too high? ›...
People sometimes feel that other symptoms may be related to high blood pressure, but they may not be:
- Dizziness.
- Nervousness.
- Sweating.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Facial flushing.
- Blood spots in eyes.
Salt or sodium
Salt, or specifically the sodium in salt, is a major contributor to high blood pressure and heart disease. This is because of how it affects fluid balance in the blood. Table salt is around 40 percent sodium. Some amount of salt is important for health, but it's easy to eat too much.
Most people who have high blood pressure do not have symptoms. In some cases, people with high blood pressure may have a pounding feeling in their head or chest, a feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness, or other signs.
Can you feel high blood pressure in your eyes? ›Possible signs of this condition include eye swelling, reduced vision, double vision with headaches and bursting of a blood vessel. People with severe and accelerated hypertension may experience vision problems and headaches.
How to bring blood pressure down? ›- Lose extra pounds and watch your waistline. Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. ...
- Exercise regularly. ...
- Eat a healthy diet. ...
- Reduce salt (sodium) in your diet. ...
- Limit alcohol. ...
- Quit smoking. ...
- Get a good night's sleep. ...
- Reduce stress.
- Take a warm bath or shower. Stay in your shower or bath for at least 15 minutes and enjoy the warm water. ...
- Do a breathing exercise. Take a deep breath from your core, hold your breath for about two seconds, then slowly exhale. ...
- Relax!
1 It is also a major cause of clinical and pre-clinical damage to the heart, brain, retina, kidneys, and arterial blood vessels. Damage to these organs typically manifests as coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, other cardiovascular diseases and impaired renal function or end-stage kidney failure.
What organ in the body causes high blood pressure? ›The gradual loss of kidney function results in the retention of water and tightening of the blood vessel, which causes high blood pressure.
What is the number 1 drink to lower blood pressure? ›What drink immediately lowers blood pressure? Beet juice is the best choice, as it can significantly lower blood pressure in about three hours. Consuming other beneficial drinks like tomato juice and pomegranate juice may not have immediate effects on blood pressure, but will work over a period of consistent use.
Does lemon water bring your blood pressure down? ›
Citrus, such as lemon and limes, has been shown to reduce blood pressure and has the added benefit of adding a little flavor to a boring glass of water.
Are eggs good for blood pressure? ›Eggs are loaded with vitamins, minerals, good fats, and high-quality protein. An increased intake of protein has shown to be effective in controlling your blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Dietary proteins such as eggs are known to have natural blood pressure-lowering properties.
What should I stop eating if I have high blood pressure? ›Highly processed foods, saturated fats, salt, fried food, and excessive alcohol intake should be avoided. These can elevate blood pressure, according to Dr. Landsman. Exceeding your recommended daily calorie intake is also bad for your blood pressure.
What fish to avoid for high blood pressure? ›Higher mercury levels are found in shark, tuna, swordfish and king mackerel.
What foods have an immediate effect on blood pressure? ›What can I eat to lower my blood pressure immediately? While there's no miracle food that can lower blood pressure immediately, consuming a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fish (and low in red meat, salt, and added sugars) may help lower blood pressure over time.
Does high blood pressure make you sleepy? ›High blood pressure causes tiredness as a result of elevated pressure on vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys. Often though, medication plays a larger role in contributing to fatigue than the actual condition does. Tiredness is often a common side effect of many medications used to lower blood pressure.
What do your eyes look like when you have high blood pressure? ›High blood pressure and red eyes often occur simultaneously. The eyes are full of blood vessels, and they typically stiffen and join each other in instances of high blood pressure. Severe cases can lead to blood leakage and busted blood vessels, which can have many dangerous effects on the vision.
What is eye stroke? ›What is an Eye Stroke? An eye stroke, or anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, is a dangerous and potentially debilitating condition that occurs from a lack of sufficient blood flow to the tissues located in the front part of the optic nerve.
What are blurry eyes a symptom of? ›Blurred vision can be caused by eye conditions, including: difficulty focusing your eyesight, such as with near-sightedness or far-sightedness. astigmatism (when the surface of the eye isn't curved properly) presbyopia (when your eyes find it harder to focus as you age)
Does cinnamon lower blood pressure? ›Cinnamon
A review of 9 studies including 641 participants showed that taking cinnamon reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 6.2 mm Hg and 3.9 mm Hg, respectively.
Will aspirin lower blood pressure? ›
Does aspirin lower blood pressure? Overall, aspirin hasn't been found to consistently lower blood pressure. But some research shows that low-dose aspirin (81 mg per day) may lower blood pressure when it's taken before bedtime.
Does Tylenol lower blood pressure? ›Regular acetaminophen use increases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in individuals with hypertension, with an effect similar to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. This rise in blood pressure is seen both in those taking and not taking antihypertensive therapy.
How can I bring my blood pressure down in 5 minutes? ›If your blood pressure is elevated and you want to see an immediate change, lie down and take deep breaths. This is how you lower your blood pressure within minutes, helping to slow your heart rate and decrease your blood pressure. When you feel stress, hormones are released that constrict your blood vessels.
What naturally lowers blood pressure? ›Additionally, some research suggests that doing more exercise than this reduces your blood pressure even further ( 4 ). Bottom line: Walking just 30 minutes a day can help lower your blood pressure. Getting more exercise helps reduce it even further.
When is blood pressure high enough to go to the hospital? ›Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness or tingling, trouble speaking, or changes in vision.
Can high blood pressure make your legs hurt? ›High blood pressure can lead to peripheral arterial disease (PAD), where narrowing of the blood vessels restricts the blood flow to the legs and feet, causing pain.
How long does it take for high blood pressure to cause damage? ›High blood pressure can cause many complications. High blood pressure (hypertension) can quietly damage the body for years before symptoms develop. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to disability, a poor quality of life, or even a deadly heart attack or stroke.
What blood pressure medications cause kidney failure? ›Diuretics, or water pills, are used to treat conditions like high blood pressure, glaucoma, and edema, but as with all medications, they come with some risks. Popular diuretics include hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, and spironolactone. They are associated with a risk for acute kidney injury.
What are 7 things that can affect blood pressure? ›- 1) Age. Generally speaking, the older you are the higher your risk of having high blood pressure. ...
- 2) Obesity. The more you weigh, the more blood is required to supply oxygen and nutrients to your body. ...
- 3) Family History. ...
- 4) Diet. ...
- 5) Smoking. ...
- 6) Stress. ...
- 7)Diabetes.
If you have high blood pressure that isn't responding to medication, your doctor may refer you to a hypertension specialist recognized by the American Society of Hypertension, Dr. Thomas says, as these cases often require in-depth testing and highly tailored treatment.
Can not eating cause high blood pressure? ›
They concluded that an irregular meal pattern where meals are skipped, which is most commonly breakfast or sometimes lunch, may affect risk factors for CVD such as type 2 diabetes, raised cholesterol and high blood pressure. Eating breakfast every day could help you to eat healthily the rest of the day.
Can lack of sleep cause high blood pressure? ›Insomnia is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Over time, poor sleep can also lead to unhealthy habits that can hurt your heart, including higher stress levels, less motivation to be physically active, and unhealthy food choices.
What infection can cause high blood pressure? ›An abscess or tooth infection may temporarily increase blood pressure. Ongoing gum disease is likely more of a concern for hypertension. Chronic inflammation of the gums related to periodontal disease may raise blood pressure and make it more difficult for people with hypertension to control the condition.
How long can you live with high blood pressure? ›With that being said, research³ does show that although you can live a long life, it may be five to seven years shorter than those without high blood pressure. Some potential causes⁴ of this shorter life expectancy include smoking and obesity.
What is the purple drink that lowers blood pressure? ›...
Blood Pressure Lowering Effects of Grape Juice.
| Study Start Date : | March 2006 |
| Actual Study Completion Date : | May 2009 |
Green tea is generally considered the healthiest beverage globally due to its high levels of nutrients and antioxidants that fight off diseases and keep your organ functioning at its optimum level.
What is a healthy drink besides water? ›Water is the best choice for quenching your thirst. Coffee and tea, without added sweeteners, are healthy choices, too. Some beverages should be limited or consumed in moderation, including fruit juice, milk, and those made with low-calorie sweeteners, like diet drinks.
Is Cranberry Juice Good for high blood pressure? ›Cranberry juice
In addition, cranberry juice may help reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow. Finally, cranberries are an excellent source of blood-pressure-lowering vitamin C.
Honey has been linked to beneficial effects on heart health, including reduced blood pressure and blood fat levels.
What drinks lower blood pressure? ›- Skimmed milk. Low-fat dairy products like yogurt and skimmed milk can help lower high blood pressure. ...
- Tomato juice. ...
- Beet juice. ...
- Hibiscus tea. ...
- Pomegranate juice.
What meat is best for high blood pressure? ›
Lean beef, pork, chicken and fatty fish are good proteins to help promote healthy blood pressure. Fatty fish like salmon are loaded with omega-3 fats, and high levels of this healthy fat are associated with lower SBP and DBP.
Is peanut butter good for high blood pressure? ›Peanut butter is high in protein and healthy fats, which can also help reduce blood pressure levels.
Can high blood pressure cause physical symptoms? ›If you are looking for a list of symptoms and signs of high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension), you won't find them here. This is because most of the time, there are none. Myth: People with high blood pressure will experience symptoms, like nervousness, sweating, difficulty sleeping or facial flushing.
How can I bring my blood pressure down immediately? ›- Take a warm bath or shower. Stay in your shower or bath for at least 15 minutes and enjoy the warm water. ...
- Do a breathing exercise. Take a deep breath from your core, hold your breath for about two seconds, then slowly exhale. ...
- Relax!
HBP can harm your eyesight in many ways
Your eyes contain many tiny blood vessels. When subjected to the long-term effects of high blood pressure, the following conditions can develop: Blood vessel damage (retinopathy): A lack of blood flow to the retina leads to blurred vision or the complete loss of sight.
Are there any high blood pressure medicines that can be bought over-the-counter? The short answer is: No. There are no FDA-approved medicines to treat high blood pressure that do not require a prescription.