Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is a condition where blood pushes against the arteries too hard on a consistent basis. Over time, if left untreated, this condition can result in potentially fatal health problems, including heart attacks, kidney damage, and strokes.
Based on data from the CDC, almost 45% of Americans suffer from hypertension. Still, many are unaware they have the condition as it is often asymptomatic, making effective blood pressure management challenging.
That’s why it’s imperative to be aware of the subtle warning signs of hypertension and make sure you get tested regularly. Read on for some of the warning signs you should keep an eye out for.
Why Hypertension Is Known as the Silent Killer
Hypertension has earned the forbidding moniker “the silent killer” due to the damage it can do before it is spotted. People can live with this condition for years before the symptoms become noticeable or the damage becomes too severe to be ignored.
In other words, if you don’t get your blood pressure checked regularly, the condition can progress unchecked.
Some people think that headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, and similar symptoms are indicative of high blood pressure. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case, as hypertension symptoms can fail to appear for a long time.
In fact, if you have symptoms, there’s a good chance your hypertension has already become severe.
Warning Signs of Severely High Blood Pressure
Once hypertension gets into the severe stages, where your blood pressure is above 180/120 mmHg, you may see certain warning signs. If you suffer from any of the following, make sure to get to an ER right away:
Headaches
Headaches are usually not associated with high blood pressure. However, extremely high blood pressure levels can sometimes cause headaches. They may feel akin to a dull ache or a pulsing/throbbing pain, which might occur on one or both sides of your head.
This may occur due to the excess pressure impacting the blood-brain barrier. In highly severe cases, the high pressure can result in blood leakage from vessels in your brain, which can cause swelling. This swelling puts even more pressure on the brain, potentially causing these headaches.
Nosebleeds
Once again, nosebleeds aren’t necessarily an indicator of hypertension. However, they can occasionally happen when your blood pressure spikes severely. Forceful sneezing or blowing your nose can further aggravate nosebleeds.
Doctors don’t understand exactly how nosebleeds and hypertension are connected — or if they really are. However, some healthcare professionals believe that, over time, due to the increased pressure, the blood vessels in your nose become weakened.
This makes them more prone to rupturing, particularly under a lot of force, such as blowing your nose hard.
Shortness of Breath
Wheezing, problems breathing, or shortness of breath can result when high blood pressure causes fluid to accumulate in the lungs. Breathing issues tend to worsen during physical activity because your body requires more oxygen due to the increased exertion.
Chronically high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in your lungs, resulting in pulmonary hypertension. This condition is characterized by higher blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, causing them to thicken and stiffen.
As a result, it’s harder for the heart to pump blood through your arteries, which can potentially lead to fluid leaking into your lung’s air sacs. This may be the cause of your difficulty breathing.
Vision Changes
Extremely high blood pressure can also strain the delicate blood vessels in your eyes. This strain can result in blurred or double vision, sudden blindness, or even bleeding inside the eye. Floaters or faint spots may also appear in your field of vision.
Chest Pain
High blood pressure taxes the heart and arteries, producing chest discomfort or pain. You may experience uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or an ache somewhere near your breastbone.
Dizziness, Confusion, or Lightheadedness
When your blood pressure elevates to dangerous levels, it can temporarily block steady blood flow to your brain. This can cause a number of problems, including lightheadedness, mental disorientation, confusion, and balance issues.
If you have any of these warning signs, either individually or in combination, you should see your doctor immediately. While all of the above might be caused by a different issue, it’s still wise to get yourself checked out.
The faster you get tested, the lower the risk of serious organ damage, which is often the result of severe hypertension that isn’t treated.
Additional Symptoms Possibly Related to Hypertension
Besides the aforementioned warning signs of severe hypertension, certain other symptoms may be loosely tied to high blood pressure:
Facial Flushing
If your face gets hot or red, it may be the result of spicy foods, alcohol, hot temperatures, strong emotions, or exercise. However, any of these causes can also temporarily spike blood pressure. While facial flushing and hypertension may overlap at times, the connection is inconclusive.
Blood Spots in Eyes
Tiny red spots on the eye’s surface (subconjunctival hemorrhage) can occur with high blood pressure, though they are more commonly linked to diabetes or allergies. Eye issues such as retinal swelling and bleeding often emerge in advanced hypertension.
Fatigue/Weakness
Overworking the heart to pump against high pressure can promote feelings of tiredness, weakness, and low energy. However, many other medical conditions also cause fatigue.
Irregular Heartbeat
Untreated high blood pressure strains the heart over time and contributes to developing arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Episodes of rapid, fluttering, or pounding heart sensations may occur.
Partner with Imperial Center Family Medicine for Ongoing Blood Pressure Management
Because hypertension is largely asymptomatic in the beginning, getting your blood pressure measured regularly is paramount. Schedule regular clinical blood pressure measurements rather than waiting for symptoms to appear, by which point you are already in danger.
Imperial Center Family Medicine has worked with countless patients to help them holistically manage high blood pressure. Our comprehensive approach factors in nutrition, lifestyle habits, stress levels, and other variables that may influence your cardiovascular wellness.
Contact us today at 919-873-4437 or online to discover how our team’s individualized guidance can help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels long-term.