Physical Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a manifestation of the stressful life we are leading today. The tensions that we carry in our day-to-day lives, take a toll on our physical and mental health. High BP is an example of a lifestyle disorder. The worst part about it, is that it does not exhibit peculiar symptoms like some other disorders. Hence, many people are oblivious of the fact that they have hypertension.

Identifying the causes and eliminating them, is the only way of keeping it at bay. You could be at high risk of having high BP if-

• You are a male over 40 years of age.
• Your intake of salt and potassium is very high.
• You are obese.
• You smoke.
• You lead an extremely stressful or absolutely inactive life.

If you are within the above mentioned risk group, you should regularly observe yourself, for symptoms of hypertension and report them immediately.

High blood pressure shares its physical symptoms with many other disorders. But, if you are aware that you are at risk and are experiencing the following physical conditions, then you can be sure that you are suffering from this condition.

If you constantly complain of headache, beware, as this might not be 'just another headache.' Frequent headaches are one sure sign of elevated blood pressure. And if you cannot figure out an apparent reason for the headache, you should immediately get your blood pressure checked.

If you experience dizziness every now and then, accompanied by sweating or palpitation, you could be suffering from high blood pressure. Dizziness can also be a symptom of some other serious disorders. In either case, see a physician.

Nausea need not always be coupled with vomiting. An uneasiness in the stomach or a constant sick feeling can be a symptom of high blood pressure, especially if there are no other symptoms associated with it.

Drowsiness is one of the major symptoms of high blood pressure. A person constantly feels the need to sleep and finds it difficult to keep his eyes open.

If you suddenly experience a blurred vision or complete darkness, you should immediately rush for medical help. Though this is a rare condition and need not always be due to hypertension, it is better to get your blood pressure checked.

If you are no longer able to perform prolonged physical activities, with the same vigor as before, it could be a sign of high blood pressure. Even daily activities can make you feel tired and fatigued, and drain out energy from you.

High blood pressure may not show any signs or symptoms at the onset. The symptoms only become evident when the blood pressure has elevated to a substantial level. Also, all those suffering from high BP, may not show all the symptoms. The occurrence of symptoms is rare and often mistaken for some other disorder. Hence, it is preferable to check your BP if you are within the risk group and you experience any of these symptoms on any occasion.