What Are the Signs and Symptoms of High Blood
Pressure?
High blood pressure (HBP) itself usually has no
symptoms. Rarely, headaches may occur.
You can have HBP for years without knowing it.
During this time, HBP can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other
parts of the body.
Some people only learn that they have HBP after the
damage has caused problems, such as
coronary
heart disease,
stroke, or
kidney failure.
Knowing your blood pressure numbers is important,
even when you're feeling fine. If your blood pressure is normal, you can work
with your health care team to keep it that way. If your numbers are too high,
you can take steps to lower them and control your blood pressure. This helps
reduce your risk for complications.
Complications of High Blood Pressure
When blood pressure stays high over time, it can
damage the body. HBP can cause:
- The heart to get larger or weaker, which may lead
to
heart failure. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump
enough blood throughout the body.
- Aneurysms
(AN-u-risms) to form in blood vessels. An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge or
"ballooning" in the wall of an artery. Common spots for aneurysms are the main
artery that carries blood from the heart to the body; the arteries in the
brain, legs, and intestines; and the artery leading to the spleen.
- Blood vessels in the kidney to narrow. This may
cause kidney failure.
- Arteries throughout the body to narrow in some
places, which limits blood flow (especially to the heart, brain, kidneys, and
legs). This can cause a
heart
attack, stroke, kidney failure, or amputation of part of the leg.
- Blood vessels in the eyes to burst or bleed. This
may lead to vision changes or blindness.
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