High Blood Pressure: 6 Signs And Symptoms Of Hypertension
- 20 Sep 2018
High blood pressure or hypertension is often associated with few or no symptoms. Theres a reason why hypertension is called the silent killer because many people suffer from it without facing any symptoms.
However, just because high blood pressure is often symptomless doesnt mean its harmless. In fact, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or hypertension, causes damage to your arteries, especially those in the kidneys and eyes. High blood pressure is also a risk factor for stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular problems.
If you are worried that you could be suffering from hypertension, here are 6 signs that you need to watch out for.
Other Causes For Fatigue With High Blood Pressure
Although fatigue can be a symptom of high blood pressure, a lack of sleep may actually be a contributing factor, too.
Sleeping 5 hours or less per night may raise your risk for developing high blood pressure. And if you already have high blood pressure, lack of sleep could be making it worse.
In addition, obstructive sleep apnea is a known risk factor for hypertension, especially in older age groups.
Some prescription medications used to treat high blood pressure can also cause fatigue.
Another cause of fatigue could be due to pulmonary artery hypertension. This is when you have high blood pressure in the vessels that carry blood between your heart and lungs. Along with fatigue, it can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness.
There are usually no symptoms or warning signs that you have hypertension. Thats why its so important to monitor your blood pressure.
Its especially important to see your doctor if youre experiencing:
- fatigue
- stress management
- drinking alcohol in moderation
Your doctor will also consider your age, coexisting conditions, and any other medications you take when treating your blood pressure. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe hypertension medications. These include:
Some of these medications can cause you to feel tired.
Other treatments depend on the extent of damage to your heart, kidneys, and overall health.
- following a healthy, balanced, low-salt diet
- getting regular exercise
Falls And Related Injuries
A sudden drop in blood pressure may make you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or even lose consciousness . These symptoms can come on quickly, causing falls or other injuries.
Falls are a major cause of hospitalization for older adults. Older adults are more likely to experience hypotension after standing up or eating. Treatment and lifestyle changes can help you manage hypotension symptoms.
Recommended Reading: Why High Blood Pressure Happens
How Is It Diagnosed
Often people learn that they have low blood pressure when their doctor checks it. Or you may find that you have low blood pressure when you check it at home.
To check for the causes of your low blood pressure, your doctor will ask about your past health, your symptoms, and the medicines you take. He or she will do a physical exam and may do other tests. Your doctor may check for another health problem that could be causing your low blood pressure.
When Should You Call Your Doctor About Low Blood Pressure
If you have recurring dizziness or fainting, or other symptoms of low blood pressure, you should visit your doctor. Sudden drops in blood pressure can be dangerous. It is important for your doctor to determine why your blood pressure is dropping and treat the cause.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/08/2019.
References
Don’t Miss: Claritin And High Blood Pressure Medications
Hypertension And Dizziness And What You Can Do
As someone with hypertension, you might be familiar with the debilitating symptoms like dizzying spells. You likely experience it whenever your blood pressure levels fluctuate. While its generally harmless, it can increase your risk for accidents or injuries. Learning how to stop dizziness naturallymight come in extra handy in preventing hazards and ensuring your safety while moving around.
How Are Inner Ear Problems Treated In Patients With Dizziness
The inner ear is a complex network of tiny structures. Some of the structures control balance and our perception of head alignment. Others regulate fluid inside the ear and transform sound into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. Dysfunction at any point can cause dizziness. Common inner ear problems include:
Also Check: High Blood Pressure Shaky
High Blood Pressure Medications
Its important to remember that what most people mistake as vertigo, is simply the side effects of high blood pressure medications. There are a ton of different classes of high blood pressure medications for different types of patients, however, a majority of the medications include dizziness as a prominent side effect. These different classes include beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, alpha blockers, methyldopa, central agonists, and vasodilators.
Dont Miss: What Is Blood Pressure Supposed To Be
Medications That Can Cause Low Blood Pressure
Medications might also cause your blood pressure to become too low.
Diuretics, tricyclic antidepressants, and erectile dysfunction drugs can also cause hypotension.
If a medication youre taking causes your blood pressure to become too low, your doctor may adjust the dosage or change the medication. This usually improves the hypotension.
Hypotension doesnt always cause symptoms. But sometimes low blood pressure means your vital organs arent receiving as much blood flow as they need. If this happens, you might feel tired or unwell. Symptoms of hypotension may include:
- fatigue, an all-around sense of tiredness or lacking energy
- lightheadedness, or feeling like you might faint
- dizziness, feeling off-balance when you get up from a reclined or seated position, or while youre standing
- nausea, a sense of discomfort in your stomach and feeling like you want to vomit
- clammy skin, when you feel damp or sweaty to the touch
- depression, persistent feelings such as sadness or low mood that interfere with your daily activities
Your treatment plan will depend on whats causing your hypotension. Your doctor will consider factors including:
- the type of hypotension youre experiencing
- the situations that may be causing hypotension for you
For some people, low blood pressure may not cause any symptoms. In cases where treatment is needed, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, medical treatment, or a combination of both.
Recommended Reading: Can I Take Claritin If I Have High Blood Pressure
Why High Blood Pressure Can Make You Feel Tired
If youve had hypertension for a while, you may have noticed that you sometimes feel tired after little or no exertion.
When left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to some serious medical complications, including those that make you feel tired easily.
Lets take a look at some of these complications that might be causing your fatigue.
- Medical Author: Dan Brennan, MD
Reviewed on 6/15/2020
Your symptoms can be due to multiple medical causes, including middle ear disorders, high blood pressure, stress reactions, and other medical conditions. You might start with rest and hydration. If you are concerned about your symptoms, please contact your doctor.
While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:
Diagnosis Of Orthostatic Hypotension
- Medical history, including medical conditions and drugs taken on a regular basis
- Physical examination
- Measuring blood pressure when lying down versus standing up
- Blood tests to check, for example, blood sugars or adrenal hormones
- Echocardiography, an imaging scan of the heart, to check for certain heart conditions
- Other tests, depending on individual factors.
Also Check: Does Claritin Lower Blood Pressure
How Is Low Blood Pressure Diagnosed
Like high blood pressure, low blood pressure can be diagnosed easily with a .
If you feel dizzy or faint when you stand up, you might need to have your blood pressure measured when youre lying down and again while you are standing up.
You might be offered a tilt table test. This is where you lie on a table that starts in a horizontal position, then slowly tilts so that youre in an almost upright position as if you were standing. You will have your blood pressure and pulse monitored, and any symptoms you feel will be recorded. You might also have a blood test to check the levels of certain hormones.
Root Cause Of Dizziness In Elderly People
For many. It goes back to slight misalignments of the C1 and C2 vertebrae that occur during accidents or injuries. They may cause no pain or other symptoms at first. You may have written the injury off as no big deal. But it has been there all along, doing damage. In what ways?
- Brainstem function A misaligned C1 can affect brainstem function because it encloses the area where the brainstem meets the spinal cord. This can affect communication throughout the body, including between the brain and the parts of the body that provide information regarding balance and spatial orientation.
- Cerebral blood flow The cervical vertebrae help deliver blood to the brain through the vertebral foramen tiny loops of bone that provide safe passage for the vertebral arteries. However, even a slight misalignment can affect blood supply and the entire central nervous system.
- Eustachian tubes Because the atlas is close to the ears, a misalignment can have an effect on the Eustachian tubes. These tubes carry excess fluid away from the ears. Thus, a misalignment can also be an underlying factor when it comes to conditions like Menieres disease, which is related to an overabundance of fluid, usually in just one ear.
It makes sense then that, before you write off dizziness as an effect of aging, you get your upper cervical alignment checked by an upper cervical chiropractor. Precise and gentle adjustments are safe for patients of all ages. Schedule a consultation today to learn more.
Read Also: Can Mild Pulmonary Hypertension Be Reversed
What To Do When Youre Dizzy Due To High Blood Pressure
When you start feeling like the world is spinning around, your best course of action is to sit down and minimize movement. If youre walking in the streets, find a cool and calm place to relax and breathe through your dizzying episode. You might also find it helpful to keep yourself hydrated, especially during a scorching day.
Besides these quick remedies, you can also try other self-care techniques. If youre looking for strategies on how to stop dizziness naturally, you can try the following:
What Are The Treatments For Low Blood Pressure
The treatments for low blood pressure depend on what caused the condition. Your doctor will work with you to address the cause of the hypotension. In severe cases of hypotension, your doctor may give you IV fluids to raise your blood pressure.
Depending on a variety of factors, such as your age and the type of hypotension, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following: dietary changes, lifestyle changes and/or medications.
To make dietary changes, your doctor might tell you to:
- Stay hydrated by drinking more water throughout the day.
- Drink less alcohol.
- Increase your salt intake slightly because sodium raises blood pressure.
- Eat smaller, healthy meals and limit carbohydrates.
You can take several steps to avoid a sudden drop in blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend that you make the following lifestyle changes:
- Wear compression stockings.
- Get up slowly after youve been sitting or lying down.
- Avoid standing for long periods of time.
- Sit up and breathe deeply for a few minutes before getting out of bed.
Your doctor might prescribe medications like:
- Fludrocortisone, which increases blood volume.
- Midodrine, which increases blood pressure.
Also Check: What Makes Your Bp High
Sleep Deprivation And Blood Pressure
There has been some link between getting less than six hours of sleep per night and increased blood pressure. It is generally thought that adequate sleep allows for the body to better regulate stress hormones and the nervous system. Scientists believe that without providing your body with the rest it needs, we are less able to regulate our stress and therefore increase our likelihood of high blood pressure. Aiming for a regular seven to eight hours of restful sleep each night may be both a prevention and treatment method for high blood pressure.
You should know: The answer above provides general health information that is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment recommendations from a qualified healthcare professional.
Dizziness Fatigue Feeling Faint And High Blood Pressure
- Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Reviewed on 7/13/2021
High blood pressure can occur without associated symptoms but can also be accompanied by dizziness or other symptoms. An extremely high blood pressure is a sign of a medical emergency and warrants immediate attention. Dizziness and feeling faint can also occur with other conditions. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about these or any worrisome symptoms.
While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:
You May Like: Low To Lower Blood Pressure
What Makes Yale Medicines Approach To Dizziness Unique
Because dizziness can be caused by so many different underlying illnesses, patients might have to undergo several diagnostic tests to ensure a proper diagnosis. At Yale Medicine, most patients can have all those tests performed under one roof.
Yales Medical Campus has a joint clinic that combines the resources from the Hearing and Balance Center with its Otolaryngology Center. Experts work closely with Yales Neurology Program for patients with potential neurological disorders. Physicians from each clinic are each trained to assess a patients symptoms in a slightly different way and they work together to identify the best possible treatment.
Can Blood Pressure Medications Cause Dizziness
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Blood Pressure
How Are Blood Pressure Problems Treated In Patients With Dizziness
Patients who experience lightheadedness and dizziness often have poor circulationand the sensations can be most apparent when sitting up or standing, particularly after having been seated or reclining for several hours.
Dizziness is also a common symptom of the blood pressure medications such as alpha channel blockers or calcium channel blockers, and prostate medication. If patients are taking those medications, the best treatment for their dizziness is to consult with their primary care physicians to determine if switching medication is possible.
Another treatment approach is to educate patients about symptom management. Before standing up suddenly, for example, you can improve circulation by repeatedly contracting your thigh muscles. Or instead of immediately getting out of bed in the morning, try raising your head by about three inches, which increases the tone of blood vessels so pressure doesn’t drop after standing up. Compression stockings also work to increase arterial pressure and reduce the chance of a sudden blood pressure drop.
Help To Manage Social Anxiety
The isolation of social distancing may have caused or enhanced feelings of social anxiety. Learn how to identify it and help manage your symptoms.
Where can I find more information about COVID-19 vaccines?
What impact does the American Rescue Plan Act have on health insurance coverage?
Don’t Miss: Is Claritin Safe For High Blood Pressure
What Are The Side Effects Of The Treatment For Low Blood Pressure
There are no side effects for the lifestyle and dietary changes that can treat hypotension.
The medications used to treat hypotension have several side effects, some of which may be serious. Fludrocortisone can make certain infections worse, so its essential to discuss this medication with your doctor. The most common side effects from fludrocortisone are:
- Increased risk of infection.
The most common side effects from midodrine are:
- Numbness or tingling.
- Goosebumps and chills.
Migraines Sometimes Cause Vertigo
It surprises some people to know that dizziness is commonly linked to migraine disease, either with or without headaches, says Debara L. Tucci, MD, an otologist, neurologist, and ear surgeon at Duke Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. Other symptoms of migraine-related vertigo include sensitivity to motion, light, and sound, adds Dr. Tucci. About 40 percent of people who have migraines experience dizziness or vertigo, according to VEDA.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Blood Pressure Down Fast
Family History Of Hypertension
While exercising and healthy eating go a long way towards lowering your blood pressure, there are some risk factors that you may not be able to change.
Genetics is a major contributing factor when it comes to your hearts health, and blood pressure can be hereditary. If you are aware of your immediate family being hypertensive or having had a heart attack before the age of 45 , you should make it a priority to visit a doctor.
Understanding family history is important to recognize the cause of high blood pressure, further evaluating whether it is genetic, poor eating habits or lack of exercise repeating itself across generations is also essential.
Even if you have a family history of high blood pressure, it doesnt mean that you cant take actions to avoid another heart episode in the family. Recognizing high blood pressure is challenging, but with regular blood pressure readings, you can easily track it.