My mother was diagnosed with Hypertension in her late 30s. I’m writing this with memories of the months, weeks, and days before her diagnosis. Even though I wasn’t always around her because I was away from home in varsity, we did have conversations on the phone quite often. And in those conversations, the signs came up. Mentioned briefly, rushed over, and then dismissed.
How did we not hover around these signs or symptoms? They weren’t dramatic. No fainting spells or emergency sirens. Just little things (we can come back to this belittling later). A persistent headache here, a strange fatigue there. Naturally, they were easy to wave off. “You could just be tired.” “Maybe it’s the weather.” “I didn’t sleep well.” And with that, they were dismissed.
It’s quite easy to ignore the signs of hypertension. Not dwelling on the obvious fact that they’re common and could be signs of just about anything else. But more than that, we’ve normalized the feeling of being unwell. We get so used to feeling “off” that these warning signs become part of our daily lives. There is the piece of lack of awareness too. The general lack of understanding about what hypertension is and how it presents. So we don’t realize these vague symptoms could be linked to something more serious.
So, let’s dwell into these signs. What do they actually look like? What do they feel like? And how do you know for sure when it’s time to stop and take action?
- Headaches
Headaches that come with high blood pressure aren’t the usual kind. They tend to be more persistent, often felt at the back of your head, and can also cause sudden, intense throbbing on both sides. While the exact experience can vary from person to person, the main characteristic is the persistent, throbbing nature of the pain, which is generally more intense than a regular headache. These can be especially intense in the morning. If you’re waking up with a headache that just won’t go away, or if it feels different from the typical tension headache, it’s something to take seriously.
- Dizziness or Light-headedness
Of Course you might sometimes feel dizzy or light headed because you are dehydrated, or have low blood sugar, or inner ear issues, or are even anxious… ( yeah I know). But with hypertension, the dizziness is often more persistent or seems to happen without a clear reason. It might catch you off guard while you’re sitting, walking, or even doing nothing at all, which makes it worth paying attention to.
- Shortness of Breath
While it’s normal to feel out of breath after being active, shortness of breath that occurs without any major physical activity can be a sign that your heart isn’t pumping blood effectively due to high blood pressure. If you find yourself struggling to breathe, even during normal tasks, it’s time to get checked.
- Fatigue
We all feel tired now and then, but with hypertension, the fatigue can feel different. It’s not just the usual end-of-the-day tiredness. It can feel like you’re running on empty, even after a full night’s sleep. If this kind of tiredness sticks around for days, and starts interfering with your daily routine, it could be more than just exhaustion.
This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms. Those chest palpitations you might brush off as anxiety? They make the list too. But these are some of the most important ones to pay attention to, precisely because they’re so easy to overlook. It’s also worth noting that signs of hypertension don’t always show up one at a time. You might have a headache that comes with dizziness, or blurred vision paired with fatigue. The combination can be subtle, but it’s your body’s way of saying something isn’t right.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re too young for this. These signs can show up earlier than you might expect. Sometimes as early as your late 20s or 30s, especially for women. Hypertension isn’t just something that hits later in life. Stress, diet, and hormonal changes can bring it on much sooner. For women, factors like pregnancy complications (hello, preeclampsia), birth control, or even menopause can mean high blood pressure showing up earlier than you’d expect.
So pay attention. Do your screenings and don’t brush off those little signs. Make it a habit to check in with your doctor regularly. But even better, take charge of your lifestyle. A balanced diet, regular exercise, managing stress, and staying on top of your health can make a huge difference in keeping hypertension at bay. Remember, high blood pressure doesn’t always show clear symptoms, but that doesn’t mean it’s not doing damage. Small changes today can make a big impact on your health tomorrow.
Take control, stay aware, and don’t wait for things to get worse. Your future self will thank you.
Her Health Matters 