Symptoms
There is no guarantee that a person with hypertension will present any symptoms of the condition. About 33% of people actually do not know that they have high blood pressure, and this ignorance can last for years. For this reason, it is advisable to undergo periodic blood pressure screenings even when extremely high blood pressure may lead to some symptoms, however, and these include:- Severe headaches
- Fatigue or confusion
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Problems with vision
- Chest pains
- Breathing problems
- Irregular heartbeat
- Blood in the urine
Causes
Though the exact causes of hypertension are usually unknown, there are several factors that have been highly associated with the condition. These include:- Smoking
- Obesity or being overweight
- Diabetes
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Lack of physical activity
- High levels of salt intake (sodium sensitivity).
- Insufficient calcium, potassium, and magnesium consumption
- Vitamin D deficiency
- High levels of alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Aging
- Genetics and a family history of hypertension
High blood pressure in pregnancy is fairly common. Your blood pressure is more likely to rise during your pregnancy if you are overweight.