Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
By Bobby Gill

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

The new National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines now define normal (BP) as follows: less than 120 mm Hg systolic pressure and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic pressure. Hypertension is often called the "silent killer" because symptoms of high BP do not appear for years until a vital organ is threatened. Symptoms of high BP are almost non-existent. Beyond a professional BP reading, the early signs of high BP are rare and hard to detect. The signs and symptoms of high BP during pregnancy preeclampsia are elevated BP (hypertension) and the presence of excess protein in your urine (proteinuria) after 20 weeks of pregnancy. About 1 percent of people with hypertension do not seek medical care until their symptoms of high BP are severe.

There are generally no symptoms of high BP, so you usually don't feel it. High BP (also known as hypertension) is a condition caused when constricted arteries decrease blood flow and make it more difficult for the heart to pump blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Initially, there are almost no high BP symptoms. Some people think the symptoms of high BP are frequent headaches and dizziness or a pain at the back of the head and neck in the morning (that gradually disappears). You have the choice to never allow the symptoms of high BP to display them in your life. The physical symptoms of high BP are not always noticeable and can sometimes be considered a normal part of the patient's daily life. If you ignore the potential physical symptoms of high BP then you increase the risk that high BP could accelerate into a potentially fatal disease. Remember that anyone can develop high BP so if you notice any of the following physical symptoms of high BP in yourself or someone you know then be sure to get to a doctor immediately. One of the most noticeable physical symptoms of high BP is continued fatigue. Another one of the physical symptoms of high BP is called tinnitus. Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. It is usually described as a ringing noise, but in some patients it takes the form of a high pitched whining, buzzing, hissing, humming, or whistling sound, or as ticking, clicking, roaring, "crickets" or "tree frogs" or "locusts", tunes, songs, or beeping. While tinnitus itself is very difficult to treat, you can sometimes reduce the amount of tinnitus you experience if you address the condition that could be causing it. The physical symptoms of high BP are very difficult to see even if you are a doctor. Some of the symptoms of high BP are continued fatigue, constant headaches, a feeling and look of your face being flush. But in most cases there are very few symptoms of high BP and if your doctor is not looking for high BP condition then your doctor may not find it.

The following are possible symptoms of high blood pressure:

Severe headaches

Flushed face

Dizziness

Epistaxis (nosebleed)

Leg claudication (cramping in legs with walking)

Nervousness

Fatigue

Weakness

Stroke

Excess perspiration

Blurred vision

Retinal hemorrhage (bleeding in the retina of the eye)

Chest pain and congestion

Breathing problems

Heartbeat irregularities or Palpitations

Blood in the urine.

Polyuria (frequent urination)

Many children have no symptoms of high BP, although some children with high BP may have signs and symptoms such as:

Chest pain

Fatigue

Difficulty concentrating

Headaches

Difficulty

sleeping.

Screening and prevention are the best ways to protect your health, since there are many symptoms of high BP. Treating the symptoms of high BP is therefore crucial. Early treatment of mildly elevated BP may reduce the risk of more severe symptoms of high BP in the future. Even after a significant amount of time, the symptoms are often mild and nonspecific (meaning they could be caused by several different conditions). It is important to understand that high BP can go unrecognized for years, not causing any recognizable symptoms of high BP, but causing progressive damage nonetheless. Excessive amounts of coffee, chocolate, sour cream, or avocados may also produce symptoms of high BP in very rare cases. Drugs and medications only treat the symptoms of high BP and do nothing to address the actual underlying causes of the condition. Garlic has the ability to lower BP, improve cardiac function and help with the overall symptoms of high BP. Drinking enough water is extremely beneficial to our bodies.

Conclusion

High is a major cause of death in the United States today, not in itself but because it significantly raises your risk of developing a number of life threatening conditions including such things as cardiovascular disease, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. When BP stays high over time, it can damage the body. Complications of high BP are no joke. - The key complications of high BP include heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, peripheral artery disease, and aortic aneurysms (outpouchings of the aorta). The complications of hypertension are often referred to as end-organ damage because damage to these organs is the end result of chronic (long duration) high BP. For that reason, the diagnosis of high BP  is important so efforts can be made to normalize and prevent complications. Control other risk factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, and high cholesterol that can lead to complications such as a heart attack and stroke. Remember that the higher your BP, the greater your risk for these complications. In older adults, even small decreases in systolic may be enough to prevent complications, if their diastolic is normal. All forms of high increase the risk for pregnancy complications. Some headaches can be a warning of early damage to the vascular system in the brain or the retina, which will require urgent control to prevent fatal complications. High BP can lead to any one or more of several potentially fatal complications, such as heart attack or stroke. The goal of treatment is to prevent the condition from becoming worse and to prevent it from causing other complications. Early identification of women at risk for pregnancy-induced hypertension may help prevent some complications of the disease. There is no cure for high BP, but there are options for controlling it, and preventing the more serious complications that can result. There are generally no symptoms of high BP, so you usually don't feel it. You have learned from this article that the symptoms of high BP are not noticeable until damage to your body could already have progressed. The best way to protect yourself is to perform regular readings of your BP at home with a portable blood pressure monitor and regularly provide your doctor these readings so that a full history of your BP is available. Mostly important - change your lifestyle habits that are known to contribute to high blood pressure.