High blood pressure usually has no associated signs or symptoms, which means that you could have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. If it is left unchecked, high blood pressure can cause damage to the heart or blood vessels which can eventually lead to serious problems such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, or kidney disease. 2
The only way to know for certain whether you are hypertensive is to have your blood pressure measured. If you have a close relative who has high blood pressure, or suffer from other health problems such as obesity, you should take special care to have your blood pressure regularly checked, even if you feel fine. 6
You may start to feel symptoms of high blood pressure only when it becomes extremely high, at around 180/110 mmHg. 2 If your blood pressure reaches this level, you may feel the following:
If you experience any unexplained symptoms of this nature, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
In the case of hypertensive urgency, blood pressure may suddenly rise to severely high levels without you experiencing any symptoms. When this happens, your blood pressure is high enough to cause organ damage and be life-threatening. In these cases, it is essential to get your blood pressure back down to normal levels as soon as possible in order to prevent major organ complications.5
If hypertension goes untreated, or if you stop taking your high blood pressure medication, you can be at risk of a hypertensive emergency. Although these are rare, they are extremely dangerous since they can cause significant, often irreversible, organ damage. Symptoms of a hypertensive emergency include: 5
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure you should ensure you have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. As an adult, you should have your blood pressure checked at least once every five years, particularly if you have any contributory risk factors. A GP, nurse or pharmacist can measure your blood pressure, or you can do it yourself if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. 1 Some pharmacies and drop-in clinics will measure your blood pressure for free.
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Last Updated 17/06/2009 16:34:17
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