How Do You Feel When You Have High Blood Pressure

What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure

Most people who have high blood pressure do not have symptoms. This is why its sometimes called the silent killer. It is very important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

Some people experience headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath with high blood pressure. However, those symptoms can mimic many other things . Usually, these symptoms occur once blood pressure has reached a dangerously high level over a period of time.

Common Causes Of High Blood Pressure Spikes

Some people with high blood pressure will experience sharp rises in their blood pressure. These spikes, which typically last only a short period of time, are also known as sudden high blood pressure. These are some possible causes:

• Caffeine
• Certain medications or combinations of medications
• Chronic kidney disease

Dietary And Lifestyle Changes

• Reduce the consumption of unsaturated fats, especially red meat. These foods contribute to high blood pressure levels.
• Lose weight. Excess weight can increase blood pressure.
• Boost your metabolism. This helps to increase blood circulation and reduce high blood pressure risk.
• Minimize stress. A contributing factor for the development of high blood pressure and increased frequency of hypertension headaches.

Making changes to how you live can be difficult. But by starting with only minor changessuch as losing a pound a week or just being more aware how much salt is in the food you eatyou will be on the right track to making sure your blood pressure is under control.

However, not all aspects of health are within our control and there may be a time when the care of a trained medical professional will be required. There are great anti-hypertensive medications available that do a great job at keeping blood pressure normal.

Related: Essential oils for migraines and headaches

Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.

Don’t Miss: How To Calibrate Omron Blood Pressure Machine

Decreased Alertness Or Confusion

These may be a symptom of a serious illness, especially for older adults and the elderly. Though the level of consciousness may decrease as part of the ageing process, and it would be normal for an elderly not to remember where he placed his car keys, you should still visit your doctor to check the underlying cause of your confusion problem since it may be related to high blood pressure and prompt treatment should be given.

How Blood Pressure Is Controlled

When the heart contracts, the blood inside the left ventricle is forced out into the aorta and arteries. The blood then enters small vessels with muscular walls, called arterioles. The tone in the muscular walls of the arterioles determines how relaxed or constricted they are. If narrowed, they resist flow.Reduced flow of blood is detected in the brain, the kidneys and elsewhere. Nerve reflexes are stimulated and hormones are then produced. The heart is induced to beat more forcefully so that blood pressure is maintained at a higher level, to overcome the restricted flow through the arterioles. The achievement of good flow eases possible problems for function of the brain and kidneys.These adjustments occur normally. However, in some people the adjustments become fixed and high blood pressure persists. These people have developed hypertension.

Read Also: Does Claritin Raise Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure And The Heart

Theres a reason why your blood pressure is taken every time you visit a doctors office or hospital, regardless of the complaint that brought you there. High blood pressure is rightly known as the silent killer. It often carries no symptoms or warning signs but can drastically increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The higher the number, the harder your heart is having to work to pump blood around your body and the more likely it is that damage is being done to the heart muscle. Since all parts of your body rely on circulation, though, its not just your heart that high blood pressure can impact. If blood doesnt flow easily, it can harm your arteries as well as vital organs such as the kidneys, eyes, and brain.

High blood pressure has been shown to damage the tiny blood vessels in the parts of your brain responsible for cognition and memory, greatly increasing your risk of developing Alzheimers disease or another dementia. Being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease can also take an emotional toll, affecting your outlook and making you more susceptible to anxiety and depression. And just as blood pressure may have an impact your mood, the reverse can also be true:

How Can You Lower Your Blood Pressure Immediately

Theres no instant cure for high blood pressure, but there are little things you can do to lower your blood pressure naturally without medication.

Your doctor will likely recommend that you first attempt to correct hypertension by making lifestyle changes. Simple, common sense changes can have a big impact on your blood pressure, like the following things:

Recommended Reading: Apple Watch 2 Blood Pressure

If You Think You Have A Pulmonary Embolism

Some pulmonary embolisms can be life-threatening, so go to the emergency room for a doctors evaluation if you notice any signs of a blood clot in your lung. Your primary care doctor may send you to the ER so you can get a same-day lung scan, says Dr. Tran.

The ER can rule out a pulmonary embolism with a CT scan or nuclear medicine ventilation profusion study, says Dr. Tran. A CT scan shows doctors your arteries. A nuclear medicine ventilation profusion study is a breathing test with a tracer.

How Do You Feel When You Have High Blood Pressure

High Blood pressure is very big health issue as it fluctuates in very short periods and numerous times each day. It is a high risk for heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.

Sometimes this disease of high blood pressure becomes a silent killer, as it has no noticeable symptoms. This disease cannot be recognized at initial moderate stage point, many may remain undiagnosed and untreated. In this disease of high blood pressure, the very first number refers to systolic blood pressure. In this, 90% of patients have higher incidence of memory deficits of older cases. One of the big difficulties in high blood pressure is anxiety and mild emotional stress.

You May Like: Does Claritin D Cause High Blood Pressure

Do You Know The 10 Alarming Signs Of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is now a very common condition amongst adults. According to a new report, nearly half of the American population have high blood pressure.

If you suffer from high blood pressure or Hypertension, you may eventually develop other health problems like heart disease, and increase your risk of dying from a heart attack or a stroke.

Annually in the US, there are 610,000 deaths from heart attacks, and nearly 800,000 people suffer from strokes. And those numbers are growing. Knowing that high blood pressure is the major preventable factor, why do we have such high numbers??

Can you recognize the signs of high blood pressure?

Checking Your Blood Pressure

The best way to find out if you have hypertension is by checking your blood pressure. This can be done at the doctors office, at home with a blood pressure monitor, or even by using a public blood pressure monitor, such as those found in shopping malls and pharmacies.

You should know your usual blood pressure. If you see a significant increase in this number the next time your blood pressure is checked, you should seek further evaluation from your healthcare provider.

Don’t Miss: Calibrate Omron

Treatments For Sudden Rise In Blood Pressure

A rise in already high blood pressure requires immediate medical attention. You can expect to have intravenous therapy and tests to determine what caused the spike in your pressure. Once your pressure is stabilized to a satisfactory level, then your doctor will discuss further treatment. Depending on your current health condition and any issues aside from high blood pressure, your treatment will vary.For example, if there is fluid in your lungs, you will be treated with prescribed diuretics to remove the fluid. If there is damage to your heart, you will be prescribed specific heart medication. Medications you may be taking may need to be adjusted or changed to another type, depending on your test results. Any kidney damage or tumors may require surgery.

Related Articles: Foods that Raise Blood Pressure

Signs Of A Pulmonary Embolism

Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism often depend on:

• The size of the clot.
• Your age.

Some common signs of a blood clot in your lungs include:

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath thats new and different from what youve experienced before could be a sign of a blood clot in your lung especially if the feeling lingers.

Breathlessness or becoming easily winded with mild exertion will last for hours, even days, if there is a blood clot, notes Dr. Tran. If you feel breathless for a second and then youre OK, its probably not.

Chest pain

While chest pain may signal a heart issue, it can also be a sign of a clot. The chest pain will be constant or happen when you take deep breaths.

It may feel like a shooting pain that starts in your front and travels to the back in the chest area, says Dr. Tran. You may also feel chest heaviness or pressure that lasts. If its just fleeting, goes away and doesnt happen again, youre probably not dealing with a blood clot.

Coughing up blood

Another sign of a blood clot in your lung is coughing up blood. The sputum would have more than a tinge of blood in it, too: It would be much more teaspoons or tablespoons of blood, notes Dr. Tran.

Also Check: Claritan And High Blood Pressure

How Does High Blood Pressure Cause Headaches

Pain levels depend on how high someones blood pressure is. Hypertension headaches may range from mild to severe and are regulated by how much blood is reaching the brain. During times of high blood pressure, blood vessels running through the tissue under the skull constrict or tighten, leading to headache development.

It is also possible for blood pressure medication to cause headaches. Checking blood pressure during headaches can be a good indicator of whether it is caused by abnormal blood pressure levels.

Some medical professionals believe that having a headache due to high blood pressure is a sign of a hypertensive crisis, which is when blood pressure spikes to critical levels.

What Causes High Blood Pressure

Food, medicine, lifestyle, age, and genetics can cause high blood pressure. Your doctor can help you find out what might be causing yours. Common factors that can lead to high blood pressure include:

• A diet high in salt, fat, and/or cholesterol.
• Chronic conditions such as kidney and hormone problems, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
• Family history, especially if your parents or other close relatives have high blood pressure.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Tobacco use or drinking too much alcohol.

Don’t Miss: Does Claritin Lower Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure Chart

• congenital conditions, such as Cushings syndrome, acromegaly, or pheochromocytoma

Sometimes, there is no apparent cause. In this case, a doctor will diagnose primary hypertension.

Consuming a high fat diet, carrying excess weight, drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking tobacco, and the use of some medications also increase the risk.

Treatment will depend on several factors, including:

• how high the blood pressure is
• the risk of cardiovascular disease or a stroke

The doctor will recommend different treatments as blood pressure increases. For slightly high blood pressure, they may suggest making lifestyle changes and monitoring the blood pressure.

If blood pressure is high, they will recommend medication. The options may change over time, according to how severe the hypertension is and whether complications arise, such as kidney disease. Some people may need a combination of several different medications.

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.

Read Also: Reduce Blood Pressure Medication

What If My Blood Pressure Is 150 110

In a systolic blood pressure measurement of 130/80, you are considered to have high blood pressure. A blood pressure above 140/90 is considered to be stage 2 high. It is not advisable to wait to seek medical attention if your blood pressure rises above 180/110 more than once. There is an elevated level of distress with this reading.

What Is High Blood Pressure And Who Should Care

High blood pressure is common in the United States. In 2019, the American Heart Association reported that nearly half of all American adults have high blood pressure.

But what is high blood pressure? And who needs to be aware of it? High blood pressure is when the pressure in your blood vessels is frequently higher than normal. It tends to run in families. Depending on the cause it can affect people of any age, but its more common in older folks. Its also more common in people:

• Who are black

• Eye damage

• Death

Here well explain some symptoms of HBP, when to get medical help, and what you can do to monitor your own blood pressure and stay healthy.

Read Also: Can I Take Claritin With High Blood Pressure

How Is Blood Pressure Measured

Health care providers measure blood pressure with a cuff that wraps around the upper arm or the leg in babies. When the cuff inflates, it squeezes a large artery, stopping the blood flow for a moment. Blood pressure is measured as air is slowly let out of the cuff, which lets blood flow through the artery again.

Blood pressure is measured in two numbers:

The pressure when the heart pumps.

The pressure when the heart rests between beats.

You hear blood pressure reported as the first number “over” the second number, like 120 over 80 or 120/80.

Quitting Smoking And Limiting Alcohol

If youre a smoker and have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor will most likely advise you to quit. The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the bodys tissues and harden blood vessel walls.

If you regularly consume too much alcohol or have an alcohol dependency, seek help to reduce the amount you drink or stop altogether. Drinking alcohol in excess can raise blood pressure.

If you have risk factors for hypertension, you can take steps now to lower your risk for the condition and its complications.

Also Check: High Blood Pressure Shaky

What Are The Symptoms Of Hypertension

Hypertension is generally a silent condition. Many people wont experience any symptoms. It may take years or even decades for the condition to reach levels severe enough that symptoms become obvious. Even then, these symptoms may be attributed to other issues.

of severe hypertension can include:

• flushing

According to the American Heart Association , contrary to popular thought, severe hypertension doesnt typically cause nosebleeds or headaches except when someone is in hypertensive crisis.

The best way to know if you have hypertension is to get regular blood pressure readings. Most doctors offices take a blood pressure reading at every appointment.

If you only have a yearly physical, talk with your doctor about your risks for hypertension and other readings you may need to help you watch your blood pressure.

For example, if you have a family history of heart disease or have risk factors for developing the condition, your doctor may recommend that you have your blood pressure checked twice a year. This helps you and your doctor stay on top of any possible issues before they become problematic.

There are two types of hypertension. Each type has a different cause.

Diagnosing High Blood Pressure

Diagnosing hypertension is as simple as taking a blood pressure reading. Most doctors offices check blood pressure as part of a routine visit. If you dont receive a blood pressure reading at your next appointment, request one.

If your blood pressure is elevated, your doctor may request you have more readings over the course of a few days or weeks. A hypertension diagnosis is rarely given after just one reading.

Your doctor needs to see evidence of a sustained problem. Thats because your environment can contribute to increased blood pressure, like the stress you may feel by being at the doctors office. Also, blood pressure levels change throughout the day.

If your blood pressure remains high, your doctor will likely conduct more tests to rule out underlying conditions. These tests can include:

• cholesterol screening and other blood tests
• test of your hearts electrical activity with an electrocardiogram
• ultrasound of your heart or kidneys
• home blood pressure monitor to monitor your blood pressure over a 24-hour period at home

These tests can help your doctor identify any secondary issues causing your elevated blood pressure. They can also look at the effects high blood pressure may have had on your organs.

During this time, your doctor may begin treating your hypertension. Early treatment may reduce your risk of lasting damage.

Also Check: Does Claritin Affect Blood Pressure