Understanding High Blood Pressure: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment Options

Medical Review by Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DABOM

Summary

• High blood pressure can develop from a mix of genetics, lifestyle, and other health conditions, like diabetes or kidney disease. It’s often called the “silent killer” because most people have no symptoms until serious health conditions arise.
• High blood pressure affects nearly half of American adults and can lead to serious health issues, like heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and vision problems.
• Healthy lifestyle changes—like reducing salt intake, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and managing stress—can lower your blood pressure. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, medication may be needed to keep it under control.
• Different medications to manage blood pressure work in various ways. Some relax your blood vessels, while others might slow your heart rate or flush out excess fluid.

High blood pressure is common—but help is available

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common chronic medical condition that affects nearly half of American adults—over 119 million people. It plays a major role in serious health conditions, like stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage, and vision problems, contributing to nearly 500,000 deaths in the U.S. every year.

Because it develops without symptoms, about 46% of adults with hypertension don’t know they have it until it’s found during routine check-ups—sometimes after damage has already occurred. That’s why understanding high blood pressure and talking to a healthcare provider about the best ways to treat it are vital for good health.

The good news? Managing your blood pressure through healthy habits and medication can reduce these risks. Early detection is essential, so regular monitoring should also be part of your long-term health plan.

In this article, we’ll explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for high blood pressure. Use this information to make informed decisions about your health and know when to seek expert guidance from a healthcare professional.

Causes of high blood pressure

High blood pressure occurs when your blood flows through your arteries with more force than normal. This extra pressure hardens arteries, which restricts blood and oxygen flow to vital organs and can trigger problems throughout your body.

High blood pressure doesn’t have a single cause. Instead, a mix of genetics, lifestyle habits, diet, and environmental factors can raise your risk. While anyone can develop high blood pressure, certain conditions and behaviors increase the chances.

Uncontrollable risk factors for high blood pressure

Some risk factors for high blood pressure can’t be controlled. You might naturally be at more risk for this condition if any of the following conditions apply to you:

• You’re older: Blood vessels become stiffer with age, making it harder for blood to flow and increasing pressure.
• You’re of African American descent: Hypertension tends to develop earlier and more severely in African Americans.
• You have a family history of hypertension: If close relatives have high blood pressure, your risk goes up.
• You have diabetes: Diabetes damages blood vessels and increases the likelihood of hypertension.

Controllable risk factors for high blood pressure

Some risk factors for high blood pressure can be modified by making different choices. Here are a few of the most important (see the “Treatment approaches” section of this article for more details on how to modify these risk factors):

• High salt intake: Salt makes your body hold onto water, increasing your blood volume and raising blood pressure. You might consider eating foods with less sodium.
• Smoking: Nicotine causes your blood vessels to tighten, raising your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, quitting smoking can be good for your heart.
• Excess alcohol: More than 1 drink a day for women or 2 for men increases your risk.
• Stress: Stress can temporarily raise blood pressure, and long-term stress can have lasting effects.
• Being overweight or obese: Extra weight makes your heart work harder to pump blood, which raises blood pressure.

Hypertension from another medical condition or medication

When hypertension is caused by another medical condition or from medication this is called secondary hypertension. Common causes include kidney or artery conditions, hormonal disorders, sleep apnea, and pregnancy.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because most people don’t experience any symptoms. This makes it easy for hypertension to go undetected until it causes serious health problems. For most people, the first time they learn they have high blood pressure is at a routine doctor’s visit or through a health check. 

When blood pressure gets extremely high—often at levels of 180/120 mmHg or higher—it can trigger symptoms, and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms may include:

• Severe headaches
• Blurred or double vision
• Chest pain and trouble breathing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Nosebleeds
• Buzzing or ringing in the ears
• Irregular heart rhythms

Diagnosing high blood pressure

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to measure it. High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms, so many people don’t realize they have it. You can get your blood pressure checked:

• At your doctor’s office – A healthcare provider will measure it during your visit.
• At a pharmacy – Many pharmacies have self-service blood pressure machines.
• At home – You can monitor it yourself with a digital blood pressure device.

Since blood pressure changes throughout the day, your provider will take multiple readings across different visits to get the most accurate picture. At least two readings on two separate occasions are needed to diagnose hypertension.

Your provider may also check for signs of heart disease or other complications through a physical exam. They’ll factor in your age, medications, other health conditions, and any risk of side effects before recommending a treatment plan.

Understanding blood pressure readings

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers:

• Systolic pressure (top number): Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.
• Diastolic pressure (bottom number): Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

If your systolic reading is 180 mm Hg or higher, or your diastolic is higher than 120 mm Hg and you are in a hypertensive crisis, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Treatment approaches

While some risk factors—like your genetics or age—are beyond your control, many others risk factors are able to be controlled. Making healthy lifestyle choices is the first step to help you lower your blood pressure. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to control your high blood pressure, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication. If your blood pressure is linked to another health condition, treating the root cause can also help.

Lifestyle & prevention tips

Living a healthy lifestyle can help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range and lower your risk of heart disease. Lifestyle changes alone can reduce cardiovascular events by up to 15%. Here are some steps you can take:

• Eat a balanced diet: The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan is recommended, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
• Cut back on salt: Reducing your salt intake makes a big difference. Aim to use less salt when cooking and check food labels for hidden sodium.
• Maintain a healthy weight: If you are overweight or have obesity, even a small amount of weight loss can lower your blood pressure. On average, every kilogram lost reduces systolic blood pressure by 1 mmHg.
• Exercise: The American Heart Association recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week—about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week
• Quit smoking: Smoking raises your blood pressure and increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Limit alcohol: If you drink, keep it moderate. Men should stick to no more than 2 drinks a day, and women should limit it to 1 drink a day.
• Get enough sleep: Poor sleep is linked to high blood pressure and other chronic health problems.

Medication options & how they work

There are many types of blood pressure medicines, each working in different ways. Sometimes, using more than one type of medication works better than using just one.

Here’s how the most common blood pressure medicines work:

• ACE inhibitors (like lisinopril) relax your blood vessels by reducing chemicals that make them tighten. This helps blood flow more smoothly and takes pressure off your heart, making it easier to pump.
• Beta blockers (like metoprolol) slow your heart rate and reduce the force of each beat. With your heart working less hard, less blood flows through your vessels, lowering your blood pressure.
• Calcium channel blockers (like amlodipine) relax the muscles in your heart and blood vessels by keeping calcium out of the cells. This helps your heart pump more easily and lowers blood pressure.
• Diuretics (like hydrochlorothiazide) help your kidneys to remove excess water and salt from your body through urine. With less fluid in your blood, the pressure in your arteries goes down.

Blood pressure medicines usually begin working within a few days. It’s important to take them exactly as prescribed and continue until your doctor advises you to stop.

Lemonaid Health can also prescribe all of the medications listed above in clinically indicated cases. Learn more about Lemonaid Health’s blood pressure medications here.

Lower your blood pressure with Lemonaid Health

High blood pressure, while common, is a serious condition that can have long-lasting effects on your overall health. If you suspect you or someone you know may be experiencing hypertension, reach out to a healthcare provider. Working with a qualified medical professional is the best way to find a treatment plan that is safe and effective for you.

At Lemonaid Health, we’re here to support you. Schedule a virtual visit with one of our qualified US-based health professionals who can help and identify suitable solutions—including FDA-approved medications when necessary.