SYMPTOMS

High blood pressure typically has no symptoms at all, that is why we can call it as Silent killer. Although there are many coincidental symptoms that are widely believed to be associated with high blood pressure. These include headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, a flushed face and fatigue. Although people with high blood pressure may have many of these symptoms, they occur just as frequently in those with normal blood pressure. Why these symptoms occur, If a person has high blood pressure that is severe or longstanding and left untreated, symptoms such as headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, restlessness, and blurred vision can occur as a result of damage to the brain, eyes, heart and kidneys. In rare cases, high blood pressure may cause brain swelling, which can lead to drowsiness and coma.

Briefly Hypertension has following 10 common symptoms.

  • headache
  • Nosebleed (Epistaxis)
  • Breathlessness
  • tinnitus(Ringing in Ears)
  • sleepiness, Ansomnia
  • confusion
  • Fatigue
  • profuse sweating
  • vomiting
  • low libido or lack of sexual desire
  • Blurred vision

If you have not above symptoms, it does not mean that you have no high blood pressure. Remember most common symptom of high Blood pressure is that " It Has No Symptom". Best way to keep you healthy is to have your blood pressure checked at regular intervals.

SIGNS

What is difference between sign and symptom? Symptom is everything that patients tell to a Doctor, and Signs is everything that a Doctor see in a patient. Now what are signs of Hypertension?

In majority of patients the only sign is High Blood pressure. However, Examination of Retina of Eye may reveal various abnormalities which are known as Keith- Wagener Retinal changes. These changes in retinal arteries are devided into 4 grades depending upon tortuosity of retinal arteries, arteriovenous nipping, haemorrhages, and papilloedema. The presence of heamorrages, exudates or papilloedema is diagnostic of Malignant Hypertension which requires urgent treatment.

COMPLICATION

While elevated blood pressure alone is not an illness, it often requires treatment due to its short- and long-term effects on many organs. The risk is increased for:

  • Cerebrovascular accident (CVAs or strokes)
  • Myocardial infarction (heart attack) Hypertensive cardiomyopathy (heart failure due to chronically high blood pressure)
  • Hypertensive retinopathy - damage to the retina
  • Hypertensive nephropathy - chronic renal failure due to chronically high blood pressure.

REFERENCES
http://www.highbloodpressuremed.com/
hhttp://www.wikipedia.com/hypertension

 

Back