Hypertension does not manifest with a specific set of symptoms and most of the times it is detected during physical examinations or when a person is treated for other diseases. However, some persistent symptoms that could indicate hypertension are:

  • Frequent and persistent headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nosebleeds
  • Dizziness

When a person has a sudden attack of blurred vision, nausea, along with chest pain, it could be a symptom of malignant hypertension and needs to be taken to a hospital immediately.

Complications from hypertension
Undetected and untreated hypertension can lead to severe and life-threatening complications.

  • Vascular diseases: Hypertension if untreated leads to thickening of blood vessels known as atherosclerosis and also leads to the narrowing of arteries. This can happen in any part of the body including, heart, kidneys, eyes, legs, and brain, leading to disability or organ failure and life-threatening conditions. Blood vessels can weaken and form an aneurysm, which can also be life-threatening if it ruptures.
  • Heart disease: Atherosclerosis in the heart can lead to heart attack and stroke. If there is high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder resulting in the thickening of the heart’s pumping chambers. This can prevent the heart from pumping enough blood to all parts of the body resulting in heart failure.
  • Eyes: The blood vessels in the eyes can become narrow or thicken or can tear leading to loss of vision.
  • Metabolic syndrome: Hypertension can lead to a cluster of disorders resulting in increased waist circumference, lowering good cholesterol, and increasing the blood pressure and insulin. These disorders together can lead to diabetes and heart-related disease.
  • Dementia: High blood pressure can result in narrowing and blocking of arteries, and a stroke that interrupts blood flow to the brain can cause vascular dementia.

Hypertension is diagnosed with basic blood pressure readings. In specific cases, additional blood or urine tests will be done to rule out secondary causes. An eye examination too will be advised to detect high blood pressure to understand symptoms like a headache.

Treatment of hypertension
Once a person is diagnosed with hypertension, the goal is to bring blood pressure to normal i.e. less than 130/80. In most cases, the treatment has to be done for entire life to maintain normal levels. Medication includes diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers, and beta blockers. These are effective in dilating arteries, removing excess fluid from blood vessels, slowing heart rate, relaxing the blood vessels – all of which help in reducing blood pressure.

In some cases, if one medication is not proving to be effective a combination of medications can also be prescribed. Some of the drugs can have side effects and have to be taken only under the supervision of a doctor.

Malignant hypertension is when the blood pressure shoots up suddenly and has to be treated quickly, in the ICU of a hospital. Blood pressure medicines are given intravenously and once the blood pressure reduces, medication might be given orally. A few days of rest will be recommended.

Resistant hypertension is when blood pressure does not respond to medication. Change of medication, investigation of secondary causes, diet and lifestyle modifications are the ways to control resistant hypertension.

Along with medication, lifestyle modifications, healthy diet, quitting smoking and alcohol, including food that reduces blood pressure are all part of treating all types of hypertension.