High blood pressure is an unfortunate condition where the blood pressure is over the safety marks and it normally hangs atop the 120/80 mm Hg. Even though booed pressure mostly occurs with a combination of heart diseases, but the condition can also sustain standalone to pave way for a dreadful life of the individual. High blood pressure is also known as hypertension, and mostly gets triggered due to the hardening of artery walls. The brittleness in the walls makes obstructs the fluid movement of blood in the body and the heart has to work overtime to pump the blood in the nook and crannies of the body.
Older adults over the age of 50 are more prone to experience symptoms of high blood pressure and hypertension while heavyweight and unhealthy eating diets being the active causes of high blood pressure. Prolonged exposure to high BP can dismantle the overall health of the heart and individuals suffering from hypertension should seek proper medical attention to prevent any lethal consequences.
We have prepared for you a list of 10 common high blood pressure symptoms to help you recognize the problem at the early stages.
Symptom 1: Bleeding nose
Clinically known as epistaxis, nosebleeds are one of the most common symptoms of high blood pressure. According to the study, almost 17% of people who are suffering from hypertension experienced frequent episodes of nosebleeds. The high pressure of the blood ends up puncturing the capillaries inside the nose which then results in nosebleeds. Recurring episodes of nose bleeds should be responded to with medical guidance and treatment.
Symptom 2: Defected vision
Prolonged exposure to hypertension over a period of time would damage the vision capabilities of the eye while also making the vision blurry and defective. Vision damage occurs due to the puncture of capillaries that are present in the eye, supplying blood to the retina. Similarly, the optic nerve and the eye do not get sufficient supply of blood which ultimately results in defected vision or even total vision loss.
Symptom 3: Frequent headaches
High blood pressure is directly associated with frequent episodes of headaches, according to 2018 survey, almost 21% of the total US hypertension patient suffered from unbearable headaches. Even though headache is a non-specific symptom and it does not necessarily mean that a patient suffering from headaches would be diagnosed with high blood pressure right away, but still proper medical treatment is imperative.
Symptom 4: Shortness in breath
A symptom close related to pulmonary hypertension, the condition mainly affects the blood flow across the entire body due to the strenuous resistance contributed by the hard and tightened arteries. Lack of blood in the body also leads to insufficient oxygen supply which ultimately results in lung impairment. Lungs work overtime to fulfill the oxygen requirement but the individual feels breathlessness due to lack of blood movement.
Symptom 5: Fatigue or drowsiness
Even though fatigue can be triggered due to a myriad of health factors, but the lack of blood movement also leads to fatigue as the vital organs of the body do not get sufficient amount of blood, hence the body does not get charged with an adequate amount of nutrients or energy. The lack of blood causes a lack of energy which unfortunately leads to a dreadful condition of chronic fatigue.
Symptom 6: Mental confusion
Just like fatigue, mental confusion is also a non-specific symptom of hypertension which gets triggered due to a lack of supplied oxygen. The head during hypertension does not receive the proper amount of oxygen and nutrient which consequently hinders the thinking and focus abilities of the brain. Individuals suffering from a constant state of confusion should seek medical testing for hypertension.
Symptom 7: Chest pain
A symptom also related to the hardening of pulmonary arteries, the discomfort arises when the lungs are not exposed to the proper amount of oxygen, which affects the working of the lungs and then triggers unbearable chest pains. Even the hardening of coronary artery orchestrated chest pain as the heart does not get proper supply of oxygen thus leading to excessive pressure on vital organs which then triggers chest pains.
Symptom 8: Sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction is also known as low libido is also an active symptom of high blood pressure. The lower end of the body, especially the penis is not supplied with an adequate amount of oxygen which then results in erectile dysfunction. Damaged blood vessels in the woman also signify that the vagina won’t get proper supply of blood which will result in reduced sexual arousal or excessive dryness.
Symptom 9: Heart palpitation
The feeling of missing out on the heartbeat is commonly defined as the situation of heart palpitation. Even though it’s a non-specific symptom of hypertension, the condition is closely associated with high blood pressure and strenuous pressure of the heart in an attempt to fulfill the body’s necessary blood requirement. It can be gravely dangerous and the suffering individual should seek proper medical treatment.
Symptom 10: Swollen ankles
Hypertension causes the unusual engorging near the legs and ankle region of the body. The condition is highly discomforting and it is clinically known as edema. Overfilling of tissues with fluid triggers edema or ankle swelling, edema is an active harbinger for the debilitating kidney heath and an unhealthy heart. Hence, no oversight should be done while dealing with edema and the condition should be confronted with proper heart care treatment.