High blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) is one of the deadliest killers in the Philippines. It has already affected around 14 million Filipinos in 2013 and roughly about 20 percent of the whole adult population in the country, according to the Department of Health.
So it’s very important to check your body for other symptoms that may be related to hypertension. Here are some of them:
Most of the time, high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) has no obvious symptoms to indicate that something’s wrong.
1. A not so ordinary headache
Having a headache may be no big deal for some, but for people with hypertension, headaches can be a dangerous sign. When the blood pressure rises to 180/110 mm Hg or higher (a normal blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg), severe headaches and nosebleeds could happen.
These symptoms may pertain to other diseases, not just hypertension. But it’s important to know the dangers of these symptoms. When these occur, get medical help ASAP.
2. Sudden dizziness
Dizziness is not caused by blood pressure itself, but by its medications. But dizziness isn’t as harmless as it seems. It can, as a matter of fact, also be a symptom of stroke.
Stroke is a deadly disease that can lead to death or permanent disability. It is also one of the risks of having hypertension. So, having severe dizziness, up to the point where there’s loss of bodily coordination, can be a symptom of hypertension and stroke.
3. Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears
Chest pains and shortness of breath are symptoms also related to hypertension. If you have hypertension, you may experience pounding in your chest, neck, and ears once in awhile–as if you’re palpitating or your heart is in a race.
If this occurs to you frequently, a visit to the doctor is immediately needed. Irregular heartbeat might be a sign that you are experiencing high blood pressure. You should not belittle this simple sign, it’s a warning.
4. Serious blood spots in the eyes
This is common to people with diabetes and high blood pressure. Some people choose to ignore red spots in the eyes and think that it is just an irritation, but then again, that may not be the case.
Ask an ophthalmologist or eye doctor to double-check this if you have this warning sign. You won’t know, it can be a subtle sign of an untreated high blood pressure. These are just a few signs that may point to hypertension, this type of disease is a silent killer that is best checked as early as possible, especially if you have a family history of having one.
There are hospitals like ManilaMed who can help you learn more about this disease and assist you on the know-hows of checking and managing your blood pressure. For more information, visit their site at www.manilamed.com.ph.
