Medical Review by Heidi Moawad
Summary
- High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common condition that often develops gradually and may not show symptoms until it has already caused serious damage.
- Regular monitoring is essential for recognizing high blood pressure before it can lead to serious complications.
- A reading of 120/80 is considered healthy blood pressure for most adults. Anything above that is considered high, and 180/120 is considered dangerously high.
- Signs of an emergency when you have dangerously high blood pressure could include severe headaches, shortness of breath, chest pain, numbness, vision changes, or confusion. These can indicate emergencies like a stroke or heart attack, requiring immediate medical attention.
- Treatment approaches for high blood pressure include lifestyle changes like reducing salt intake, quitting smoking, regular exercise, and potentially taking medication. These steps can help control your blood pressure and prevent complications.
High blood pressure is a common condition—but staying informed can help
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition and a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems. But although many people have high blood pressure, the symptoms can be hard to recognize. This is why it’s frequently called the “silent killer”.
Understanding the signs of high blood pressure can help you and your healthcare provider spot the signs early and make an effective plan to manage it. In this article, we’ll cover the most common symptoms of high blood pressure, explain when those symptoms might signal a medical emergency, and provide guidance on when to seek professional help.
Measuring your blood pressure & why it matters
The conditions for high blood pressure often develop gradually—it commonly appears when you’re in your 30s or 40s and becomes more likely as you get older.
Most cases also do not come with obvious symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they’re usually linked to the damage high blood pressure has already done to organs like your heart or lungs.
That means the best way to deal with high blood pressure isn’t to wait until things get bad—it’s to have your blood pressure regularly tested by a medical professional. Anybody over the age of three should have their blood pressure professionally tested at least once a year.
What your blood pressure numbers mean
Your blood pressure reading consists of two numbers, one on top of the other. The top number is called your systolic blood pressure, and the bottom one is your diastolic blood pressure. Together, they represent the pressure of your blood in mm HG (millimeters of mercury).
What blood pressure level is considered dangerously high?
120/80 is considered a healthy blood pressure for most adults. If your systolic pressure is consistently higher than 130 or your diastolic blood pressure is consistently higher than 80, you should talk to your healthcare provider about how to lower it. Blood pressure at or above 180/120 is considered dangerously high.
Warning signs of dangerously high blood pressure
When blood pressure rises dramatically or reaches dangerously high levels, certain symptoms may occur. Recognizing these symptoms can give you and your healthcare provider an opportunity to take action while there’s still time to make a difference and prevent or reduce serious organ damage.
If your blood pressure has been measured at or above 180/120, the following can be common symptoms of a related health emergency. If you are in this situation, you should call 911.
- Severe headache: An intense or sudden headache that feels different from typical headaches.
- Difficulty breathing: Feeling as though you can’t catch your breath or experiencing severe shortness of breath.
- Severe pain: This may occur in the stomach, chest, or back.
- Numbness or weakness: Sudden loss of strength or sensation, especially on one side of the body, can indicate impaired blood flow and may be a warning sign of a stroke.
- Sudden vision changes: Experiencing blurred vision, loss of vision, or seeing spots or flashes can result from high blood pressure affecting the blood vessels in the eyes or brain.
- Confusion or difficulty speaking: Cognitive issues can signal a lack of blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of stroke.
Complications of untreated hypertension
Ignoring symptoms of high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems over time. Potential complications include:
- Heart attack or stroke: Prolonged high blood pressure can damage arteries. This makes them more prone to blockages or ruptures that prevent the right amount from reaching your heart or brain.
- Kidney damage: Hypertension can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste effectively.
- Aneurysms: Sustained high blood pressure can weaken arteries, leading to bulging or ruptured blood vessels. Reducing blood pressure has been shown to prevent aneurysms related to these ruptures in rats.
- Vision loss: Damage to blood vessels in the eyes can lead to a condition called hypertensive retinopathy. This type of vision loss can often be reversed when blood pressure returns to normal levels, but it can quickly cause permanent vision loss if left untreated.
These are medical emergencies. Test your blood pressure regularly with a healthcare provider and know the warning signs to control your risk—and seek emergency assistance as soon as possible if you believe you are suffering from one of the complications listed above.
Seeking professional help
Being proactive and getting professional support can help you prevent and manage high blood pressure. In addition to regular testing and monitoring, some lifestyle changes and medical interventions can play critical roles in preventing dangerous complications.
When to consult a healthcare provider
To recap, you should contact a healthcare provider at least once a year to have your blood pressure tested. You should also reach out if you have consistent blood pressure readings above 120/80 mm Hg—even if you feel fine.
Remember: if your blood pressure readings are dangerously high and you have any of the warning signs listed earlier, it’s an emergency. In those cases, you should not wait—call 911 instead.
Not sure whether your symptoms require medical attention? It might be best to err on the side of caution and schedule a check-up.
What to expect during a consultation
When you see a healthcare provider to diagnose high blood pressure, they’ll usually start by measuring your blood pressure and reviewing your medical history. If they determine that your blood pressure is too high, they might recommend measures to help you bring it down to normal levels.
Treating high blood pressure
Some of the steps your healthcare provider might recommend for high blood pressure include:
- Decreasing the amount of salt you eat
- Losing weight
- Stopping smoking
- Drinking less alcohol
- Exercising regularly
In some cases, medication may also be prescribed to help lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications. It’s possible that you might be prescribed more than one type of blood pressure medication as well—remember to take these on time and as directed for best results.
Learn about your options to manage blood pressure medication with Lemonaid Health.
