Signs of high blood pressure are very poor - the best way to detect it is to measure blood pressure

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Cao Thanh Tam - Cardiologist - Cardiovascular Center - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

Many people live with persistent high blood pressure without realizing it until they are hospitalized for cardiovascular events. At this time, it is too late to actively prevent hypertension. Recognizing the early signs of hypertension is extremely important.

1. Some signs of high blood pressure

Headaches There are many different types of headaches, and depending on their root cause, there are different treatments. In particular, fluctuations when high blood pressure can cause headaches.
In addition, headaches may also be the only sign of high blood pressure in some people in the community. They often describe a dull pain in the head, spreading to the shoulder and neck, lasting or intermittent. Thus, if you are having a headache for unknown reasons, it is necessary to check if your blood pressure is really normal or not. If high blood pressure is measured during this time, the issue of blood pressure control should take precedence over headache management. In particular, if sudden severe headache accompanied by signs of weakness, paralysis of the limbs, mouth distortion, vomiting, this should be recognized as a hypertensive emergency causing stroke complications. At this point, you need to be hospitalized immediately for specialized medical assistance. Delays can cause more severe brain damage and permanent sequelae.
Dizziness If low blood pressure, reduced blood flow to the brain will cause dizziness, this symptom will also be seen when the patient has high blood pressure. Especially in cases of sudden onset of dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and difficulty walking, these are warning signs of high blood pressure causing a stroke.
However, if the patient is already being treated for high blood pressure, dizziness can also be considered a side effect of some antihypertensive drugs. At this time, it is necessary to re-examine so that the doctor can measure blood pressure and have a way to adjust the medicine accordingly.
Blurred vision The optic nerve, located at the back of the eye, can be affected by high blood pressure. The reason is because when the pressure in the blood vessels becomes too high, pressing on the light-sensitive cells, the visual signal system is limited, the patient sees blurred everything around. Now, using an ophthalmoscope, the ophthalmologist can detect that this blurred vision is caused by untreated high blood pressure rather than damage to the eye. .
On the other hand, if these blood vessels burst due to high pressure, and the retina bleeds, the patient may lose partial or total vision in one eye. In addition, if the blood vessels on the conjunctiva swell and rupture, the ability to see light is not affected, but the patient's eyes are red and congested, similar to conjunctivitis.

Nausea and vomiting When blood pressure is high, the patient's digestive system can also be disturbed. This condition is aggravated if hypertension activates the accompanying autonomic nervous system, increases gastric secretion, and excessive movement of intestinal smooth muscles.
Besides, if the patient vomits but is characterized by sudden, rapid and sudden vomiting without previous signs of nausea, vomiting, especially accompanied by headache, dizziness, the cause is suspected. Vomiting is caused by an acute hypertensive crisis, causing hemorrhagic lesions in the brain, leading to the syndrome of increased intracranial pressure.
Chest pain Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure in the arteries. The increase in blood pressure is due to increased peripheral resistance, which increases the blood pumping pressure. At this time, in order to maintain perfusion capacity throughout the organ, the heart requires increased contractility and resistance to peripheral resistance. This condition will increase the need for nutrients and oxygen to the heart. If the blood vessels supplying the heart are atherosclerotic, the demand for nutrients for the heart is limited, the heart muscle is ischemic and leads to chest pain.
In the case of a sudden complete blockage of a blood vessel, an area of ​​the heart muscle will fall into the state of acute myocardial infarction. The patient will have severe chest pain, feeling like a strangulation in the chest, and need to be hospitalized urgently because of acute complications of hypertension.
Nosebleeds The nose is the first gateway of the airway system into the body. The airflow through the nose is not only partially filtered, but also warmed and humidified. This is possible thanks to a dense network of capillaries in the nose. Therefore, when blood pressure is high, the pressure in blood vessels everywhere in the body increases, including these blood vessels. They break apart easily and cause nosebleeds. This bleeding will be very difficult to stop with local hemostasis measures alone if the patient has congenital pulse points along with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Flushing and sweating Flushing is also caused by blood vessels in the face dilating in response to increased blood pressure. Moreover, if the blood pressure rises suddenly, it can be accompanied by stimuli on the autonomic nervous system, causing not only flushing, but also sweating, pale skin, cold hands and feet.

2. How to monitor blood pressure at home?

Because signs of hypertension are very poor, the best way to detect it is to measure blood pressure. It is the blood pressure parameters that will be the most reliable evidence to diagnose hypertension, instead of waiting until the above signs are noticed. Thus, periodic blood pressure measurement not only needs to be done in the clinic or hospital but even in every family with all members since entering middle age. This will help each individual avoid hypertension caused by "white coat" syndrome or hidden cases of hypertension.
Since each person's blood pressure can naturally rise and fall throughout the day, depending on life activities, it is necessary to know how to measure blood pressure properly. It is recommended to measure when the body is resting, relax after at least 10 to 15 minutes and absolutely do not use coffee or tobacco. Be careful while wrapping the measuring tape and need to repeat the blood pressure measurement at least twice in one measurement, taking the average value. If your blood pressure readings are above normal, you should see your doctor early to confirm the diagnosis and initiate treatment.

However, if the patient finds that the blood pressure suddenly rises too high, whether or not they have ever been diagnosed with hypertension, they should be hospitalized immediately for effective antihypertensive intervention. This case is especially serious for hypertensive emergencies that cause complications in the heart and brain, causing the patient to have chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, blurred vision or weakness in the limbs.
In summary, blood pressure has long been considered a silent killer as an important risk factor for cardiovascular events. Because the signs of hypertension are very poor while the measurement of blood pressure is extremely simple and easy to perform, each individual needs to be conscious of self-monitoring of their own blood pressure, and actively treat hypotension. early, before leading to target organ damage in order to preserve long-term health.
Currently, Vinmec has basic hypertension check-up packages with a team of medical-physicians who are leading experts in the industry, highly qualified, dedicated and wholeheartedly for the benefit of the patients. Vinmec is confident about its hypertensive screening service because:
With 90% having university degrees, 20% are professors, associate professors, nearly 30% are doctors, bringing high efficiency in medical examination and treatment. Healing. Comprehensive and professional medical examination, consultation and treatment services. Modern equipment system, supporting effective diagnosis and treatment. Modern, civilized, luxurious and sterile medical examination and treatment space.

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