General question about high blood pressure

aliasojo

I'm not after medical advice, just curious about something I read and a conversation I had with someone.

Is high blood pressure always symptomless?

The web pages I've read seem to suggest it is but I met up with an old friend from back home recently who has been medically diagnosed as having high blood pressure and she insists she knows when her pressure is high as she doesn't feel right. Her Doc told her the most she'd feel would be a headache.

Is it really that black and white when it comes to high blood pressure?

rosie383

TBH I think it is a question of scale. My friend is the same, she knows when her B/P is high, but only when it is very high. If B/P is elevated just a bit, it is very hard to tell, but I think that people with very high b/p will just feel 'off' and assume that it is their hypertension that is causing the feeling.
So, in a way they are both right. High b/p doesn't usually cause tell-tale symptoms other than the possible headache, but patients with very high b/p can sometimes tell.
BTW, I was a nurse for over 20 years and I just know from experience that patients will feel that they may be hypertensive just from sometimes vague symptoms.

marmiterulesok

As an RGN,I have had a few patients (who have known hypertension) say that they can sometimes tell when their blood pressure is high because they don't feel right.

High BP can cause headaches but for many it is symptomless and is discovered by chance.

McKneff

I was diagnosed with it a month ago, I had no idea, I had no symptoms of any kind till I went for an NHS check up.

shays_mum

I had a really bad headache, but thought it was cos my muscles were playing up, turned out to be very high bp

sammyjammy

i take medication for high BP, family history, I have rarely felt symptoms nad it was only picked up through frequent visits with my GP when I was off work with anxiety and depression to due bullying at work. My sister on the other hand can frequently get symptoms of high BP such as burst blood vessels in her eye, headaches etc, she is not currently on medication and doesn't take it seriously as she is a hard working Headteacher and will not take the time to visit her GP on a regular basis.

ETA - Just been to docs for medication review 144/101!! Didn't have a clue.

MoaningMyrtle

I have had burst blood vessels in my eyes (not from injuries or exertion) I had to go on BP medication the third time this happened.

I could also hear the blood rushing through my ears at night in bed, this disappeared when I started taking the medication.

I don't smoke, take exercise and am not overweight. I was in my late thirties when I was diagnosed.

suki1964

I have severe hypertension and i certainly know when its high - shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations - just a general wellness

But then as I say mine is so high Im often hospitalised to get it back down

Fire_Fox

Not always asymptomatic but usually, it needs to be pretty high before there is any indication and even then many will be totally unaware. Part of the issue is that is generally creeps up over a long period, there is no sudden change so very subtle symptoms will be missed.

carlislelass

Mine was diagnosed when Mum had a series of strokes and I was told to see my gp and be checked. had no previous symptoms

samanthag

i too suffer with severly high bp and i usually get headaches and just generally feel unwell when it is high
sammy