There are two types of hypertension, or high blood pressure. In essential hypertension, the blood pressure is elevated and there is no identifiable cause for it. In secondary hypertension, a specific condition or behavior contributes to the elevation of the blood pressure. The symptoms for high blood pressure vary, and may worsen in time.
Initial Symptoms
Initially, a person with high blood pressure may not show any symptoms. As hypertension gets worse, you may start to notice symptoms. You may have a headache, as the increased blood pressure pounds inside the blood vessels in the brain. You may feel an ear buzzing or hear noises. The increased blood pressure affects the capillaries, the fragile, tiny blood vessels that are involved in the transfer of oxygen from the blood to the tissues. When these capillaries rupture because of hypertension, they can cause spontaneous bleeding or cause easy bruising.
Worsening Symptoms
Symptoms of worsening hypertension include blurry vision, increased fatigue or tiredness, confusion and irregular heartbeat. Hypertension is a risk factor for heart attack, or a myocardial infarction, and chest pain is usually the first sign. Usually, the chest pain is sharp, stab-like, and can radiate to the left shoulder and down the left arm. You may also feel chest tightness and have difficulty breathing.
Organ Damage
Eventually, chronic high blood pressure causes organ damage. Hypertension can cause kidney damage, resulting in blood in the urine and kidney failure, which can then lead to electrolyte disturbances, especially of potassium, and accumulation of toxic substances, such as urea, that can cause brain damage. In the heart, hypertension can produce heart failure, diminishing the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. This can lead to shortness of breath, exercise intolerance and cyanosis (bluish tinge in the skin related to diminished oxygen availability to the tissues). Another complication of hypertension is stroke. A stroke is a sudden loss of a body function due to decreased blood flow to an area of the brain. Hypertension can cause the blood vessels in the brain to rupture, causing a stroke. Symptoms of a stoke can vary, depending of the area of the brain involved. Symptoms of a stroke include slurred speech, confusion, headache or paralysis.
