High blood pressure: Does your headache feel like this? When it could be something serious
High blood pressure is often known as ‘the silent killer’, and it affects more than a quarter of all adults in the UK. The condition, which is also known as hypertension, puts extra stress on your blood vessels and vital organs. You could be at risk of high blood pressure if you eat an unhealthy diet, or if you don’t do enough exercise. A common sign of hypertension is having painful headaches, that’s accompanied by confusion and blurred vision, it’s been revealed.
The blood vessels become inflamed and may leak fluid or blood
Mayo Clinic
While headaches are quite normal, and aren’t usually anything to worry about, severe headaches that leave you feeling dazed could be caused by high blood pressure.
It may be a sign of a hypertensive crisis – a sharp rise in blood pressure to dangerously high levels.
A hypertensive crisis could be life-threatening, and requires immediate medical treatment, said the Mayo Clinic.
“A hypertensive crisis is a severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke,” it said.
“Extremely high blood pressure — a top number [systolic pressure] of 180mmHg or higher, or a bottom number [diastolic pressure] of 120mmHg or higher — can damage blood vessels.
“The blood vessels become inflamed and may leak fluid or blood. As a result, the heart may not be able to pump blood effectively.
“Signs and symptoms of a hypertensive crisis that may be life-threatening may include severe chest pain, severe headache; accompanied by confusion and blurred vision, severe anxiety, and seizures.
“Treatment for hypertensive crisis may include hospitalisation for treatment with oral or intravenous medications.”
Other common hypertensive crisis symptoms include nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, and unresponsiveness.
You should speak to a doctor straight away if you’re worried that you may be having a hypertensive crisis.
The condition may be caused by kidney failure, heart failure, a heart attack, or even simply by forgetting to take your hypertension medication.
Natural ways to lower blood pressure
Blood pressure: How to lower your blood pressure naturally.
Natural ways to lower blood pressure
High blood pressure symptoms only tend to reveal themselves if you have extremely high blood pressure.
The most common high blood pressure symptoms include nosebleeds, headaches, and finding blood in your urine.
Diagnosing the condition early is crucial, because it can cause some deadly complications, including strokes and heart attacks.
Everyone should check their blood pressure at least once every five years, said the NHS.
You can check your blood pressure by visiting your local GP surgery, or even at some pharmacies.
Source: Read Full Article