Even though this disease is very dangerous hypertension begins unnoticed by the patient and it is painless. Many patients with primary hypertension do not show any symptoms for many years. When after years with this illness the first disorders occur, they are often untypical, as for example headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, or ringing in the ears. A layman will not recognize that the real cause behind these symptoms is something completely different.
If patients with high blood pressure do not get an effective treatment organ damages will develop due to the high blood pressure readings over several years. These damages are the cause of other disorders, as for example shortness of breath, chest pain (angina pectoris), eye defects, or sensory disturbances, up to heart attacks or strokes.
If symptoms like a stroke occur – dizziness, eye defects, signs of paralysis, impaired consciousness, this can indicate a hypertensive emergency. Blood pressure reading is very high, often over 200/120mmHg. Treatment has to be started immediately by an emergency doctor respectively by the primary care physician, before the patient is taken to hospital. High blood pressure is by no means an illness to be underestimated. There is a reason why measuring the blood pressure is part of any routine medical check-up.
