Common symptoms of hypertension...misinterpreting these can be dangerous

The symptoms of hypertension can vary considerably and can easily confuse even experienced doctors. It is for this reason that doctors usually check the blood pressure of patients who come in complaining of any kind of disease. Some of these diseases may be the result of hypertension. There are plenty of cases where the patient came in complaining of one problem when the real underlying cause was found to be elevated blood pressure.

Undiagnosed high blood pressure can lead to many physical problems including damage to major organs over a period of time. The symptoms of hypertension, if ignored, can lead to deterioration in kidney / liver function and cardiac problems. Hypertension can also damage vision, cause strokes and more.

Here are some of the common hypertension symptoms to be aware of.

• Recurrent / persistent headaches
• Vision problems including blurring of vision
• Giddiness
• Convulsions
• Tremors in the hands or other body parts
• Walking difficulties (formally called ataxia)

Many other diseases give rise to these high blood pressure signs as well. Also, hypertension itself can be a sign of another underlying health condition. For these reasons, patients showing any symptoms of hypertension are investigated thoroughly and may be asked to undergo relevant medical tests

In some patients, it is possible that elevated blood pressure has caused damage to one or more organs. This makes it easy to miss the underlying problem, which is high blood pressure. To avoid this problem, doctors routinely check blood pressure when the patient comes in complaining of any health issue.

Some of the high blood pressure signs listed above are also symptoms of diabetes. Diabetics suffering from a hypoglycemic attack show similar symptoms. In fact, some symptoms of hypertension resemble those shown by people who are heavily drunk! There have been cases where persons with high blood pressure have not received the correct treatment because paramedics thought they were under the influence of alcohol.

A feeling of lethargy or excessive tiredness after even small physical exertion may be a sign of cardiac damage brought about by elevated blood pressure. The patient may feel breathless and perspire excessively. These warning signals may indicate damage to the heart and the patient must be treated urgently.

Other high blood pressure signs may relate to problems of the excretory system, perhaps arising from damage to the kidneys. A sharp increase in the frequency of urination and pain while passing urine may be high blood pressure symptoms. The person's body may suffer from electrolyte loss, which can result in dull skin and signs of dehydration.

Hypertension can also lead to eye damage. It can cause lesions in the ocular region. High blood pressure can affect the retina as well as blood vessels leading to the eyes - in either case, the patient's vision may be affected. Loss of eyesight is a real possibility if this condition is left untreated.

A general reluctance to do anything or move around and an increasingly lethargic attitude may be symptoms of hypertension too. Some patients show signs of clinical depression as well.

High blood pressure is a condition that must be treated and brought under control at the earliest. Otherwise it can cause serious health problems and result in a significantly shortened life expectancy. Knowing about the possible symptoms of hypertension can be of great value in detecting hypertension at an early stage.

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