Medical Signs Of Hypertension
The easiest way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to take your blood pressure reading.
Measuring your blood pressure is very simple and painless. It is carried out with a device called a sphygmomanometer . Within seconds, your doctor can measure your blood pressure.
The results work like this:
- Anything between 120/80 and 140/90 is called the pre-hypertension stage. This often leads to hypertension
- Between 140/90 and 160/100, you are in stage 1 hypertension
- Between 160/100 and 180/110, you are in stage 2 hypertension
- Above 180/110, you are in stage 3 hypertension
People in stage 3 hypertension tend to suffer from secondary hypertension, which is a form of high blood pressure. This can be caused by:
Other signs of secondary hypertension include:
- No effect from high blood pressure medication
- Suddenly high blood pressure
- No one in your family who has had hypertension before
With either primary hypertension or secondary hypertension, its very important that you talk to a doctor for high blood pressure. This is the only way to understand what type of hypertension youre suffering from and which treatment is best for you.
Evaluation Of Dizziness Or Light
People who become dizzy or light-headed when standing up often recover quickly when they sit down and then slowly stand again. However, it is usually important to determine what is causing the dizziness. The following information can help people decide when to see a doctor and help them know what to expect during the evaluation.
Blood Pressure Checks During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis, even if it is not high.
Watching your blood pressure while you are pregnant reduces your risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension. This can lead to a serious condition called pre-eclampsia where there is a problem with the placenta .
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Trying The Epley Maneuver
Sometimes, vertigo attacks and dizziness stem from BPPV, an inner ear problem. If you have BPPV and high blood pressure, you might experience aggravated vertigo episodes. To reduce your symptoms and cope better, we recommend trying the Epley Maneuver. Its a series of guided movements designed to address the root cause of BPPV.
Your Reading Is Above 140/90
Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers. The top number is your systolic blood pressure and the bottom one is your diastolic blood pressure. Generally, a normal blood pressure reading was considered to be more than 120 over 80 and less than 140 over 90. However, in 2017, major heart health organisations around the globe unanimously decided to lower the blood pressure levels for the diagnosis of hypertension from the older threshold of 140/90 mm Hg and 150/80 mm Hg to 130/80 mm Hg and higher for all adults. Based on this new criteria, if your numbers are over 130/80 mm Hg then you should consult a doctor immediately or find ways to lower your blood pressure.
It is essential to keep tabs on your blood pressure, especially when you lead an unhealthy life or have a family history of hypertension. You can easily purchase a blood pressure monitor from your local pharmacy and drugstore to keep a check on your blood pressure. The readings are very accurate and similar to what you would get in a hospital.
Your blood pressure keeps changing constantly to adjust to your bodys activity level, hydration, sleep, food intake, and other factors. In order to get an accurate reading, you may need to take several readings of your blood pressure over time.
Pick a time when you are calm and well-hydrated, and repeat the test weekly or monthly under the same conditions. Write down the dates and readings so that you can take them with you on your next doctors visit.
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Three Clues: Lightheadedness Changes In Heart Rate And The Effects Of Gravity
Before our firefighter, whom Ill call David, became sick, he kept track of his heart rate on his smartwatch. It was typically about 60 to 70 beats per minute at rest. Now, however, his resting heart rate was in the 80s and spiked into the 130s after one flight of stairs. Merely standing up caused lightheadedness and a racing heartbeat. He could no longer get through his usual spin class. He stopped taking hot showers because they made him feel dizzy.
While most of us take for granted the simple act of standing upright, a person with POTS may find it extremely uncomfortable. Why does POTS cause orthostatic intolerance? It helps to first understand the normal response to standing:
- Gravity causes about one-third of blood volume to instantly pool below the waist.
- Less blood returns to the heart, so less blood is then pumped out to the body.
- This leads to a drop in blood pressure to the brain .
- The drop in blood pressure is detected by sensors in the heart.
- These sensors activate the sympathetic nervous system , instructing the adrenal glands to release an adrenaline-like substance called norepinephrine into the bloodstream to help solve the problem.
On A Blood Pressure Med Take Your Time Standing Up
Some medicines may cause dizziness, which can lead to falling. Heres what you should know.
Drugs have risks along with benefits. Some can make you feel lightheaded, and that increases your chance of falling.
Medicines that affect blood pressure are a common culprit
Medicine, among other factors, cancause what doctors call postural hypotension. It happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. It makes you feel dizzy, maybe even causing you to faint.
Many people take medicine for high blood pressure. Some of these medicines can cause side effects like dizziness and fainting, especially in older adults, which may lead to falls.
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If not treated, high blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. So, whatever you do, dont stop taking your medicine. You should, however, talk to your doctor right away if youre having side effects, like dizziness.
Other things can cause dizziness,including:
What you can do when you feel lightheaded?
The last thing you needs is to take a spill. Falls can cause serious injuries and lead to loss of independence. One of the simplest things you can do is sit or lie down as soon as you feel lightheaded.
Your doctor may also recommend that you:
- Drink more water.
- Stay out of the heat.
- Wear compression stockings to help with blood circulation.
- Talk to your doctor about your medicine to check if a change in dose or type is needed.
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Pots: Lightheadedness And A Racing Heart
- By Dara K. Lee Lewis, MD, Contributor
Editor’s note: First in a two-part series on postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome . Click here for part two.
This past February, a 57-year-old firefighter came to my cardiology clinic after experiencing a strange set of symptoms. A few weeks earlier, he had gotten COVID-19. Predictably, he lost his sense of smell, developed a low-grade fever, and experienced muscle aches. Within a week his COVID-19 symptoms were gone, but he continued to feel off. And the new symptoms he described sudden lightheadedness when standing up and an unusually fast heartbeat made me suspect a condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS.
Below Ill explain whats known so far about the triggers and hallmark symptoms of POTS. In a later post, Ill discuss diagnosis and treatment.
When To See Your Healthcare Provider
Dizziness is an unpleasant symptom that can have many potential causes, so it’s important to talk with a healthcare provider to understand what’s causing it. Pay attention to the timing of dizziness and anything that worsens your symptoms, and make sure to bring this information to your healthcare provider.
As always, if you have any symptoms that indicate a heart attack or stroke, such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body, or sudden difficulty speaking or walking, get immediate medical attention.
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What Is Stroke Level Bp
Blood pressure readings above 180/120 mmHg are considered stroke-level and dangerously high. A severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke is called a hypertensive crisis. Extremely high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and weaken arteries in the brain, increasing the risk of stroke.
High Blood Pressure: 6 Signs And Symptoms Of Hypertension
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.
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Heart Attack And Stroke
At its most serious, lightheadedness may be a sign of a heart attack or . Other symptoms of a heart attack often accompanying lightheadedness are , shortness of breath, nausea, arm pain, , or jaw pain. Symptoms suggesting a stroke are the sudden onset of headache, numbness, weakness, visual changes, trouble walking, or slurred speech. “But in older adults, lightheadedness may be the only symptom of a heart attack or a stroke, especially if it doesn’t go away,” says Dr. Grossman. In that case, every second counts, so get to an emergency room for treatment.
What Causes Low Blood Pressure
Some people have a blood pressure level that is naturally low. That is, there is no specific cause or reason why. It can be the result of a healthy lifestyle and being fit and active, and your genes may play a role.
Your blood pressure varies throughout the day. It might drop when youve just eaten while your blood is carried to your gut, if youve been standing up for a long time, if youre dehydrated, and if the temperature is warm.
There are a number of other possible causes of low blood pressure:
MedicationsLow blood pressure, and low blood pressure when you stand up, can be caused by medications. These include , antidepressants and beta blockers, which are used to treat heart problems.
Health problemsLow blood pressure can also be caused by an illness or health problem.
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Clinicians Corner For More Technical Information
The following information is included for any healthcare providers who are reading this article.
When it comes to blood pressure and vertigo, normal physiological blood pressure response to standing includes baroreceptors in the aorta detecting a change in blood pressure and initiating a reflexive sympathetic response. This response involves vasoconstriction of the peripheral vasculature, an increase in heart rate and an increase in cardiac contractility. In some older adults, the baroreflex function may be impaired and they may be hypovolemic due to reduced sensation of thirst associated with aging.
Note that muscle contractions in the leg muscles can assist in reducing the symptoms of OH upon standing, due to the muscle pumping action and the one-way valves in the venous system.
For that reason, reporting blood pressure readings to the physician for patients with OH and making the physician aware of the problem is important. Non-neurogenic causes of OH include cardiac insufficiency , reduced intravascular volume , and venous insufficiency . Neurogenic causes of OH include peripheral neuropathy, CNS pathology, and autonomic insufficiency, such as in patients with spinal cord injury.
Disclaimer
Dizziness Is Also A Side Effect Of Some High Blood Pressure Medications
Increased blood pressure does not appear to cause dizziness but it is a side effect of some high blood pressure medications, especially alpha blockers and alpha-beta blockers. If you get dizzy while taking any medication, talk to your doctor about other drugs that might work for you with fewer side effects. Additionally, much research on dizziness and blood pressure indicates that low blood pressure is generally the culprit.
When the blood pressure drops, dizziness is a common side effect. A person who gets light-headed when standing up too quickly is experiencing orthostatic hypotension dizziness that occurs when systolic blood pressure drops more than 20 mm Hg or diastolic drops more than 10 mm Hg. But age not high blood pressure is the most common risk factor for this condition.The important thing to take note of is what your blood pressure readings are when you experience the dizziness whether low or elevated.
Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or trouble walking are all warning signs of a stroke. So you must contact your doctor to resolve this situation.
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In Most Cases High Blood Pressure Does Not Cause Headaches Or Nosebleeds
- The best evidence indicates that high blood pressure does not cause headaches or nosebleeds, except in the case of hypertensive crisis, a medical emergency when blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or higher. If your blood pressure is unusually high AND you have headache or nosebleed and are feeling unwell, wait five minutes and retest. If your reading remains at 180/120 mm Hg or higher, call 911.
- If you are experiencing severe headaches or nosebleeds and are otherwise unwell, contact your doctor as they could be symptoms of other health conditions.
What The Doctor Does
The doctor first asks questions about the person’s symptoms and medical history. Doctors then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause of the dizziness and the tests that may need to be done.
Doctors ask
Tilt table testing Tilt Table Testing Tilt table testing is usually recommended for people who experience fainting for an unknown reason and who do not have a structural heart disorder … read more may be done when doctors suspect malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The person lies flat on a special motorized table for several minutes. Then the table is tilted up at a 60 to 80° angle for 15 to 20 minutes while blood pressure and heart rate are continuously monitored. If blood pressure does not decrease, the person is given isoproterenol intravenously in a dose large enough to accelerate the heart rate by 20 beats per minute, and the test is repeated. This procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes and is very safe.
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What Happens When You Call 911
When paramedics respond to a complaint of wooziness, they check your vital signs , do a stroke screening, and ask about your medications. If theres no good explanation for your symptoms, theyll take you to the local emergency department.
There, a nurse will ask about your symptoms, probably obtain an ECG to look for signs of a heart rhythm abnormality or heart attack, and start intravenous fluids to ward off dehydration. Then a doctor will evaluate you. We need to consider every function in the body because wooziness could be caused by almost anything. Well do a neurological exam, look at your medications, and order blood tests to look at electrolytes and see if your sodium or potassium levels are off. Whatever is causing your symptoms, well get to the bottom of it, says Dr. Natalia Rost, chief of Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Drink Alcohol In Moderation
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will increase your blood pressure and raise the cholesterol levels in your blood.
Sticking to the recommended amounts of alcohol consumption is the best way to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.
The recommended daily limits of alcohol consumption are:
- 3 to 4 units of alcohol for men
- 2 to 3 units of alcohol for women.
A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal-strength lager, a small glass of wine or a pub measure or spirits.
More about drinking alcohol reponsibly
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High Blood Pressure And Dizzinessincreased Blood Pressure Does Not Appear To Cause Dizziness But It Is A Side Effect Of Some High Blood Pressuremedications Especially Alpha Blockers And Alpha
High Blood Pressure and Dizziness
Dizziness is one of the most common symptoms that will prompt an individual to visit a doctor. The term dizzy can be difficult to define because it can mean different things to different people. Does feeling dizzy refer to lightheadedness, the feeling of weakness and almost passing out, or does it refer to vertigo ? Dizziness is one of the symptoms of chronic high blood pressure is dizziness, in addition to headache, blurred vision and fatigue.
Choosing Healthier Lifestyle Options
Dizziness and vertigo episodes are symptoms of underlying health issues such as hypertension. Doctors dont classify them as a disease or illness. Thats why, if you want to eliminate them, its crucial to address their root cause. In your case, the symptom stems from your high blood pressure.
Here are some examples of healthier lifestyle choices to keep your blood pressure at an optimum level:
- Aim to be more physically active by spending at least 30 minutes exercising daily
- Keep tabs on your weight and watch your calorie intake
- Reduce your intake of sodium
- If you smoke, aim to lessen or completely get rid of your habit
- Manage your source of stress, such as work and relationships
- Cut back on your consumption of caffeinated beverages or food products
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