Most people with high blood pressure (hypertension) do not feel any symptoms, which is why it is often called the "silent killer"
. However, when symptoms do occur, especially in cases of very high or severe blood pressure, they may include:
- Pounding feeling in the head or chest
- Headaches, sometimes moderate to severe
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Nosebleeds
- Chest pain or discomfort, sometimes described as squeezing or pressure
- Anxiety or palpitations
- Blurred vision or other vision changes
- Weakness, confusion, or fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
These symptoms typically do not appear until blood pressure reaches a dangerously high level or a hypertensive crisis occurs, which requires immediate medical attention
. In most cases, people with high blood pressure feel normal and are unaware of their condition without regular blood pressure checks
. Therefore, routine monitoring is essential to detect and manage high blood pressure early before symptoms or complications develop.
