Hypertension puts a strain on the heart by increasing its need for oxygen making it work harder than normal, over time this also causes the walls of the arteries harden. Hypertension is a major health problem, especially because it has no obvious symptoms. Many people have hypertension without showing any obvious symptoms. If you do not know your blood pressure, you should have it taken. People with high blood pressure often do not feel sick. In fact, hypertension is often called "the silent killer" because it may cause no symptoms at all for a long time. Your organs and tissues can be damaged by hypertension without you knowing or feeling any 'external' symptoms. If you have hypertension, then you will have a higher risk for heart disease and other medical problems than people with normal blood pressure. Serious complications can be avoided by getting regular blood pressure checks and treating hypertension as soon as it is diagnosed.

Symptoms of Hypertension

1. One of the symptoms of hypertension is chronic headaches. When you get chronic headaches that last for days (rather than hours) you should immediately see a doctor and get your blood pressure checked.
2. Dizziness or Vertigo
3. Blurry or double vision.
4. Drowsiness
5. Nausea
6. Shortness of breath. Often by this time though the blood pressure has probably reached high enough levels to be dangerous as this is one of the last symptoms of hypertension you'll experience.
7. Heart palpitations
8. Fatigue - general tiredness
9. A flushed face 10. Nosebleeds
11. A strong need to urinate often (especially during the night)
12. Tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ears).

If you have any combination of these symptoms, then you should get your blood pressure checked by a doctor.

Health Facts

People with uncontrolled high blood pressure / hypertension are:
Three times more likely than people with normal blood pressure to develop coronary heart disease,
Six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure,
Seven times more likely to have a stroke.