High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Symptoms

People with primary (essential) high blood pressure usually do not have any symptoms. Most people with high blood pressure feel fine and only find out they have high blood pressure during a routine examination or a doctor visit for another problem.

Very severe high blood pressure (160 over 100 or higher), especially if your blood pressure rises very high quickly, may lead to hypertensive crisis. Symptoms of very severe high blood pressure include:

• Headaches, especially pulsating headaches behind the eyes that occur early in the morning.
• Visual disturbances.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Over time, untreated high blood pressure can damage organs, such as the heart, kidneys, or eyes. This may lead to:

• Chest pain (angina), heart attack, or heart failure.
• Stroke.
• Kidney (renal) failure.
• Peripheral arterial disease.
• Eye damage (retinopathy).
• Abnormal heartbeat.

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Author:	Carrie Henley Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: July 30, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition
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