Symptoms

How can you know if you have high blood pressure? What are the symptoms?

Hypertension is often called “the silent killer” because most people with high blood pressure present no symptoms. Although some people may experience headaches, most do not report any particular discomfort.

People may feel tension as a result of anxiety, for example, but high blood pressure does not cause any particular pain or discomfort in the vast majority of people diagnosed. It is important to understand the difference between feeling stressed or anxious and having high blood pressure. Many people confuse the two.

If high blood pressure is not treated properly over a long period of time, however, a person can develop complications or experience the following symptoms:

  • Brain and eyes:
    headaches, dizziness, vision problems, speech impairment, limb weakness, numbness, loss of feeling
  • Heart:
    palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing, swelling in the legs
  • Kidneys:
    excessive urination, frequent urination during the night, blood in the urine
  • Peripheral arteries:
    pain in legs when walking

Any of the above symptoms should be reported to your health professional.