High Blood Pressure Signs and Symptoms
High blood pressure signs and symptoms are not always readily apparent. Known sometimes as the silent killer, high blood pressure, or hypertension, often affects people without any symptoms manifesting at all. Alternatively, one may feel signs that are insignificant enough that the person feeling them doesn’t feel compelled to get them checked out by a doctor.
The best way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get regular checkups with your doctor. Your blood pressure will be measured with a sphygmomanometer, or blood pressure monitor. A cuff is placed around your upper arm, and it is inflated until it feels very tight. The doctor or nurse will listen through a stethoscope placed beneath this cuff to measure your blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or lower. The upper number is the systolic measurement, which is the active pumping of the blood from the ventricles into the arteries. The lower number is the diastolic measurement, which is the heart’s resting phase when the ventricles refill with blood.
If they find blood pressure levels they consider too high, they will let you know and request that you get several more readings over the next few weeks to see if it is due to stress or true high blood pressure.
Some people do feel symptoms of high blood pressure. Signs and symptoms of high blood pressure may include headaches or migraines, tiredness and fatigue, vision problems, mental confusion, dizziness, nosebleeds, chest pains, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat and blood in the urine. You probably won’t have every symptom, but if you are experiencing any of these, you should consider going to your doctor for a checkup. It is better to err on the side of caution. These symptoms may be confused as signs of other health issues. It is much better to go and get an exam and be wrong than to not go in and let your blood pressure get out of control. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.
If you think you may have high blood pressure and you aren’t sure if you should go to the doctor, at least use one of the free blood pressure testing stations located in many pharmacies. If the numbers are high, make an appointment with your doctor.
If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure signs and symptoms, you will be asked to do several things. You may need to change your diet and exercise more. You may be asked to lower your salt intake and cut out caffeine. You may need to take medications to lower your blood pressure. These medications may need to be changed frequently at first until your doctor finds one that works for you. If you have diabetes or experience high levels of stress, it is extremely important to watch your blood pressure.
So watch your health. Pay attention to any signs or symptoms you may have and get them checked out before they escalate to something life-threatening.