Hypertension is a disorder whereby blood pressure remains higher than normal. Symptoms such as headaches and nosebleeds may appear when the pressure reaches a high level, but these symptoms are seldom specific, states Mayo Clinic. Hypertension is most often diagnosed from blood pressure readings. Blood pressure is considered high if the readings show a systolic pressure of higher than 140 mmHg or a diastolic pressure higher than 100 mmHg.
Although hypertension may be nearly symptomless, it can have severe effects on the body while it goes unnoticed over time. That is why regular blood pressure checks are essential to control its effects early enough, states WebMD.
Common risk factors for hypertension include smoking, obesity, old age, stress, chronic kidney disease, alcohol consumption, thyroid disorders and a family history of high blood pressure. This condition is life threatening because it makes the heart work harder than normal in pumping blood to various body parts. The result of uncontrolled hypertension is the development of other health conditions such as stroke, atherosclerosis, heart failure and kidney disease.

What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure?

Let’s start with a bit of information on blood pressure and hypertension.

When your heart pumps blood through your body, this increases the pressure in your arteries. Normally, they respond by widening. High blood pressure happens when your arteries have hardened (due to aging, diseases or an unhealthy lifestyle). Hardened arteries do not relax sufficiently. As a result, your blood pressure increases.

In other words, your arteries remain relatively narrow even when you have a lot of blood flowing through them. Over the years, the increased pressure on your arteries damages them as well as your heart. Eventually, high blood pressure can lead to stroke and heart attack.

Symptoms of Hypertension

Hypertension does not commonly cause symptoms. However, in some cases, the following symptoms can occur:

Chest pain
Vision problems
Tiredness
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Pale skin colour
These symptoms can indicate that you are having a stroke, in which case you may also experience:

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Ringing or buzzing in the ear
Confusion
Severe headache
These signs and symptoms of hypertension usually occur when patients are experiencing a “crisis” or an “emergency” because their high blood pressure has reached dangerously high levels.

These signs are also common in people who suffer from a sudden increase in high blood pressure (accelerated hypertension). If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.