High Blood Pressure Symptoms Research Note
By Reader's Digest Editors
A brief digest about this topic
Hypertension is called the “silent killer” because it usually has no warning symptoms. Your best defense: Regular blood pressure checks to catch trouble early, when it’s easiest to reverse. If levels are high, you may have headaches, dizziness, blurry vision, nausea, vomiting confusion, nosebleeds, ringing or buzzing in your ears, or blood in your urine. You may even have an irregular heart beat, chest pain or heart failure. But if you’ve got symptoms, chances are good you’ve had high blood pressure for a long time. Untreated, it raises risk for heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, vision loss, and a painful circulation problem in your legs called peripheral artery disease.
Fast Facts:- Have your blood pressure checked at least every two years. More often is better. Take action if your numbers are higher than 120/80.
- A blood pressure reading has two parts—the first, or systolic, number is pressure during a heart beat. The second, or diastolic, number is pressure between beats.
- Take prehypertension (levels between 120/80 and 140/90) seriously. It’s deadlier than smoking, boosting heart disease risk 58%.
- Ignored or untreated, high blood pressure progressively damages your blood vessels, heart, kidneys and eyes.
- See your doctor if you have high blood pressure symptoms. Call 9-1-1 if you have chest pain or stroke symptoms.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
mayoclinic.com — “High blood pressure — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, treatment and prevention of hypertension.” View full resource at mayoclinic.com
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