Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by admin
According to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half (47%) of all U.S. adults have hypertension, or high blood pressure. Could that include you?
There are several different symptoms of hypertension, and it’s important to know them all. The closer you can track your health, the greater control you can take of it.
If you’ve found yourself Googling questions like, “Can high blood pressure cause fatigue?”, then read on. Today, we’re sharing five warning signs of high blood pressure, and what you need to know.
Table of Contents
What Is Hypertension?
Before we dive into the signs your blood pressure is high, let’s take a step back. What is hypertension and what causes it?
In short, hypertension is a medical condition in which there is sustained, long-term pressure against the walls of your arteries. This force is high enough that it could lead to eventual heart disease.
Normal blood pressure readings contain two numbers, presented as a ratio. These are your systolic and diastolic pressure numbers.
Systolic pressure is listed on the top. This is the maximum pressure that your heart exerts while beating. Diastolic pressure, listed on the bottom, measures the amount of pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.
Normal blood pressure readings are as follows:
- Systolic pressure: Less than 120 mmHg (millimeter of mercury)
- Diastolic pressure: Les than 80mmHg
If your systolic pressure is between 120 and 129 mmHg, then it’s considered elevated. High blood pressure is anything above the following numbers:
- Systolic pressure: 130 to 139 mmHg (Stage 1) or greater than 140 mmHg (Stage 2)
- Diastolic pressure: 80 to 89 mmHg (Stage 1) or greater than 90 mmHg (Stage 3)
Can High Blood Pressure Cause Fatigue? Signs to Know
Your primary care physician can tell you with certainty if your blood pressure is high. Medical professionals use a blood pressure cuff, or sphygmomanometer, to give you a precise and accurate reading of your blood pressure.
If it’s been a while since you’ve been in for a physical, then you might wonder if some of the health issues you’re experiencing could be linked to high blood pressure.
It’s important to understand that hypertension can be a silent problem. Many people don’t even realize they’re suffering from the condition until their levels are far beyond elevated.
This is why it’s essential to visit your doctor for regular exams and check-ups. Your doctor can prescribe certain medications to help you keep your hypertension in check. If you’d rather consult with a doctor online and get a prescription in minutes, then check out credible resources like Quickrxrefill.com.
That said, here are five common signs that could point to a potential concern.
1. Headache
High blood pressure can cause a headache. When this occurs, it could be a sign that your blood pressure is dangerously high, and it’s important to seek medical attention immediately.
Typical hypertension headache symptoms include a dull, pulsating pain on both sides of your head. In most cases, that pain will worsen with any type of physical activity.
2. Fatigue
Fatigue is a common side effect of many different health issues, from obesity to anemia. Did you know that it is also linked to hypertension?
First, the fatigue you feel could be the result of heart damage or kidney damage caused by your high blood pressure. At the same time, you might experience bouts of tiredness due to the hypertension medications that you’re taking.
If you suffer from high blood pressure, then your heart has to work harder than normal. The more work it exerts, the bigger it grows and the more blood it demands. This can cause you to feel overly tired and unable to exercise.
In time, over-exerting your heart in that way could lead to heart failure. This occurs when your heart becomes enlarged and is incapable of pumping properly.
3. Vision Problems
Have you noticed recent changes in your vision? While there could be many issues at work, hypertension is one of the potential culprits.
Along with heart and kidney problems, high blood pressure can also affect your eyesight. In time, it could even lead to eye disease. If left untreated, the condition can damage the blood vessels in your retina.
The retina is the back part of your eye, responsible for focusing images. When it becomes affected, the result is a condition known as hypertensive retinopathy. Most of the time, eye doctors uncover this issue during a routine eye exam, as it does not have any early symptoms.
Once the disease has reached the accelerated stage, you may notice vision problems, as well as headaches. This is an especially common condition among pregnant women with high blood pressure.
4. Difficulty Breathing
It can be extremely frightening and unsettling to discover that you have difficulty breathing. If you have high blood pressure, then pulmonary hypertension could be to blame.
The first sign of this condition is usually shortness of breath during mild to moderate exercises, such as climbing the stairs. If you find that you frequently feel winded, then ask your doctor to check your blood pressure.
When this happens, it’s because the right side of your heart is having difficulty moving blood through your lungs. As such, it’s not getting to the left side of your heart. This puts an excess strain on the right side of your heart, which makes it difficult to sustain physical activity.
5. Chest Pain
Chest pain is another common sign of high blood pressure. While it can be a sharp pain, you’ll usually feel a heavy sensation instead. You may also experience a pounding sensation.
Also called angina, chest pain is an early sign that you might be suffering from hypertension. If left unchecked, it could lead to a heart attack. This occurs when the blood supply to your heart becomes blocked, and your heart muscles do not receive enough oxygen to live.
Know the Early Signs of High Blood Pressure
When it comes to your health, prevention is always worth a pound of cure. If you can recognize some of the signs of hypertension early, then you can put measures in place to reverse the condition.
Can high blood pressure cause fatigue? What about a headache or chest pain? Yes to all of the above, and many more symptoms.
While your doctor is the best authority to monitor your health, it’s smart to be as informed as possible. To stay up-to-date on the latest health and fitness news, check out the Lifestyle section of our blog!
