Hypertension, or high blood pressure as it is more commonly called, is known to doctors and nurses as the silent killer. This is because it affects almost one-fourth of all adults living in the United States, and not all of them are aware of it. High blood pressure symptoms are, for the most part, non-existent. There are a few warning signs that appear in some people, but they usually appear only later on, when the damage has been done to the heart and the blood vessels so it's important to spot symptoms early.
Unless you regularly monitor your blood pressure, you can never be sure if it is at healthy levels. Some of the most telling, albeit non-restrictive, symptoms are the following:
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chest pains
• Difficulty in breathing
• Blurry vision
People often misconstrue these symptoms as signs for something else, something less serious than hypertension. At times, they are correct. What could be mistaken as lightheadedness due to hypertension could very well be just because of exhaustion from a tedious day's work. On the other hand, you could be dismissing it when, in fact, it is a sign that your blood vessels are taking a little too much pressure.
Unfortunately, many people learn that they have high blood pressure only when symptoms of organ damage start appearing. More often than not, the damage has been going on for a long time and is, by then, irreversible. Some of the more devastating symptoms of hypertension are:
1. Heart attack.
This happens when a portion of the heart is cut off from the flow of blood, thus withholding from it the oxygen the entire heart needs in order to survive. When the heart lacks oxygen, its cells languish and die.
2. Heart failure.
When the heart grows weak, it is unable to pump blood hard enough to pass it on to the lungs or the other parts of the body. Heart failure does not mean a complete cessation of the heart, but it is one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
3. Stroke.
When the blood vessels are damaged, it becomes harder for fresh, oxygenated blood to travel to the brain. When the brain runs outs of blood supply, the brain cells die by the minute, causing a stroke.
4. Kidney failure.
High blood pressure damages the blood vessels, including those in the kidneys, two of the most important glands in the body. Damaged kidneys will not function to filter the waste and toxins from the blood, increasing blood pressure even more. It's a devastating cycle that goes on and on.
5. Progressive vision loss.
The blood vessels behind the eyes are also affected. When this happens, it can lead to a condition known as hypertensive retinopathy, where the veins at the back of the eye are damaged and can lead to gradual blindness.
No comments:
Post a Comment