High Blood Pressure Symptoms: When Is It an Emergency?

Many people picture high blood pressure as a pounding headache or a flushed face. In reality, most people have no symptoms at all. This article explains what the NHS, WHO and CDC say about symptoms, and which signs mean you need urgent help.

Usually there are no symptoms

The NHS says high blood pressure often causes no symptoms, so many people do not know they have it. The CDC agrees and says measuring blood pressure is the only way to find out. The WHO says the same: because most people feel nothing, measurement is the only reliable way to detect it.

This matters because high blood pressure that goes unnoticed can still harm the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes over time, according to the CDC. Feeling well is not proof that your blood pressure is normal. For this reason, health services encourage routine checks for adults, not only for people who feel unwell. A check is quick and usually painless, and it gives you and your doctor useful information about your heart health.

Symptoms that can occur with very high readings

The NHS says that, rarely, high blood pressure may cause headaches, blurred vision or chest pain. The WHO explains that very high readings, usually 180/120 or higher, can cause:

• Severe headaches
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Difficulty breathing
• Changes in vision
• Confusion
• Nosebleeds
• An irregular heartbeat

The WHO advises seeking care immediately if these occur with very high blood pressure. These symptoms can also have many other causes, so they do not prove you have high blood pressure, and a normal blood pressure does not rule out other conditions.

How to find out your blood pressure

A health professional can measure your blood pressure using a cuff on the upper arm. The NHS says many pharmacies offer checks, some workplaces do too, and some pharmacies may charge. The WHO says people can use automated home devices, but a professional assessment is still needed to look at overall risk and related conditions.

The NHS suggests getting checked if you think you may be at risk, and if you are 40 or over and have not had a check in more than 5 years. The CDC advises that adults who have never had high blood pressure or other risk factors should have it measured at least once a year, and that people with high blood pressure need more frequent checks.

What to do if a reading is high

One high reading does not always mean you have hypertension. The NHS says that if high readings are suspected you may be asked to monitor at home for several days, come back for another check, or wear a monitor for 24 hours. Share any home readings with your doctor and do not change or stop prescribed medicine on your own. If your reading is very high, or if you have any of the symptoms above, do not wait for a routine appointment.

When to see a doctor

Book a routine appointment to have your blood pressure checked if you are at risk or have not been checked for some time. Get urgent medical advice if you often have headaches or blurred vision, or have chest pain that comes and goes, as the NHS advises.

Seek emergency care straight away if you have sudden chest pain that does not go away, pain spreading to the arms, neck, jaw, stomach or back, chest pain with sweating, sickness, light-headedness or breathlessness, or any severe symptoms along with a very high reading. The NHS says not to drive yourself to hospital.

In an emergency, call your local emergency number (112 in India, 911 in the United States).