What are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition with potentially life threatening ramifications. If high blood pressure is left untreated, you may increase your chances of a heart attack or stroke quite significantly. This is because of the strain that an elevated blood pressure can place on your heart and cardiovascular system. Unchecked hypertension can also put undo stress on other vital organs like your kidneys and can even lead to loss of vision. It is important to recognize the symptoms of high blood pressure so that you can get into your doctor at the first sign of this condition, right?

Unfortunately, it is not so easy. There are rarely symptoms of high blood pressure that will present unless the pressure has already risen to dangerously high levels. These symptoms of high blood pressure might include a severe headache, nosebleeds, vision problems or confusion. You might also experience chest pain, an irregular heartbeat or difficulty breathing. Some people will have blood in their urine when levels get very high. If you experience any of these symptoms of high blood pressure, you should contact your doctor right away, since these sign could indicate that a serious problem is imminent.

Prevention and Screening

For most people however, there are no visible symptoms of high blood pressure. This can also be a serious problem, since unchecked hypertension can create numerous problems with your body over the long term. So what is a person to do to protect himself from this silent killer? The best advice is to know your risk factors and commit to regular blood pressure screenings so that you will know there is a problem before dangerous symptoms of high blood pressure begin to arise. You can be at higher risk of developing hypertension if you are a woman and post menopausal, African American or have a family history of the condition.

High blood pressure is also more prevalent in people who are overweight, sedentary and smoke or drink excessively. It is also possible for some medications or other medical conditions to cause high blood pressure. Although you may not experience visible symptoms of high blood pressure, if you fall into any of these higher risk categories, it is a good idea to have regular blood pressure screenings at your doctor's office. If you have been diagnosed with prehypertension, a condition that often precedes high blood pressure, additional screenings may be required.

Symptoms of high blood pressure may not be typical in diagnosing this condition, but knowing your risk factors and getting regular screenings can go far in preventing, diagnosing and treating this disease before it reaches a dangerous level.