What are the symptoms of hypertension?

Blood pressure can be raised without making you feel unwell. Headache, dizziness, nosebleeds or tiredness are not specific enough to confirm hypertension, because they have many other causes. A clinician diagnoses the condition through properly performed readings, often repeated at different times or checked outside the clinic. Long-standing high pressure can strain blood vessels and organs, including the heart, brain and kidneys, even when a person feels normal.

Arrange a blood pressure check if you have not had one recently, or if a reading was unexpectedly high. Bring a record of home readings and a list of medicines, supplements and health conditions to your appointment. A clinician may discuss movement, sleep, salt intake, weight, alcohol and Nutrition Counselling, alongside medicines when appropriate. Do not stop prescribed treatment because you feel well; controlled blood pressure is still a health goal.

Call emergency services for sudden weakness or numbness on one side, difficulty speaking, severe chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, or a sudden severe headache with confusion or vision loss. These can signal a stroke, heart attack or another emergency. A mildly elevated reading without symptoms still deserves follow-up, but it is not managed in the same way as an acute emergency.

How should I measure my blood pressure at home? Do I need repeat readings or tests for organ health? Which lifestyle changes or medicines fit my other conditions?