High blood pressure also referred to as hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. It is normal for your blood pressure to change throughout the day based on your activities. But, if your blood pressure is above normal consistently you may have high blood pressure. Unfortunately, there aren’t many symptoms of high blood pressure, until there is serious damage. This is why the condition can easily go undetected.
Having your blood pressure checked regularly can help detect high blood pressure early. However, blood pressure readings can be confusing, especially if you don’t know what the numbers mean. In this article, we’ll break down how you can check your blood pressure at home and how to understand the blood pressure numbers. We’ll also go over what is considered acceptable blood pressure and we’ll break it down by age. Let’s explore these next!
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Many people who have high blood pressure don’t even show any signs or symptoms. Mayo Clinic explains that this can happen even when the blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels. This is why it can be easy for it to go undetected.
Some people may experience headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds. That said, these symptoms don’t usually occur until it has reached a severe or life-threatening stage. This is why having your blood pressure taken regularly is important. Mayo Clinic recommends at least every two years after age 18.
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