As blood pumps from your heart to the rest of your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to all your cells, your blood pressure represents the amount of force your blood requires to push through the arteries. Though this number naturally fluctuates throughout the day depending on your activities, "normal" blood pressure is typically characterized as less than 120/80 mm Hg (measured in millimeters of mercury, a unit of pressure).
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when your numbers consistently exceed this rate. And, if you’re living with hypertension, you could be at increased risk of a range of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, dementia, kidney disease, and more.
Most often, hypertension occurs without symptoms, potentially affecting the heart, brain, and kidneys before anyone is the wiser. This means it’s crucial to regularly check your numbers—ideally at home, for optimal frequency. However, if they do occur, recognizing the symptoms of high blood pressure could also save your life.
"It's important not to ignore them," says Snehal Smart, MD, a physician, patient advocate, and medical researcher at The Mesothelioma Center.
In particular, there are a handful of key clues that your blood pressure could be quietly destroying your health. Doctors say these are the five "silent" signs that you may have hypertension.
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1. Frequent headaches
ShutterstockIf you experience frequent headaches in the morning, this could be a good reason to get your blood pressure checked, according to Martina Ambardjieva, MD, PhD, a urologist and medical educator working with Dr Telx. That’s because the body naturally experiences a bump in blood pressure as it releases hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline to get moving in the morning.
"Elevated blood pressure can increase intracranial pressure, leading to dull, persistent headaches that are often most noticeable after waking up," she says.
2. Blurred vision
Signs of NAIONShutterstockYour eyesight may also suffer the consequences of high blood pressure, so if you notice any changes, it’s a good idea to see both your ophthalmologist and general practitioner.
"Hypertension may damage the small vessels in the eyes, resulting in blurred or double vision—a sign of hypertensive retinopathy," says Ambardjieva.
Smart adds that this can ultimately lead to impaired vision or even cause "complete vision loss."
3. Fatigue or brain fog
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Fatigue is a nonspecific symptom that can be caused by a wide range of underlying conditions. However, it’s important to know that high blood pressure could be one such cause, especially if you notice it in conjunction with other symptoms of hypertension.
"Sustained high blood pressure can impair blood flow to the brain, leading to mental fatigue, fogginess, or difficulty concentrating," Ambardjieva explains.
Smart notes that these neurological changes can also put patients at an increased risk of stroke.
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4. Shortness of breath or chest discomfort
ShutterstockChest pain, discomfort, and shortness of breath can also indicate that your blood pressure levels are on the rise. In particular, it can signal pulmonary hypertension—high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood from your heart to your lungs.
"These symptoms could indicate that high blood pressure is placing strain on the heart or lungs, especially in more advanced or unmanaged cases," says Ambardjieva.
5. Nosebleeds
4 | Stuffy nose and nosebleedsiStockRarely, high blood pressure can also cause nosebleeds.
"Although nosebleeds can be related to many different factors, some frequent, unexplained nosebleeds can also be related to high blood pressure. Like the changes in vision, the delicate blood vessels in the nose can be affected by high blood pressure, leading to bleeding," says Smart.
Ambardjieva further explains that when hypertension-related nosebleeds do occur, they are most often the result of "sudden and severe spikes in blood pressure, such as during a hypertensive crisis."
If you experience this symptom, it’s a good idea to check your blood pressure at home and call your doctor if your numbers are high.
