High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Can You Feel the Symptoms?
Key takeaways:
It’s rare to have high blood pressure symptoms. You won’t typically feel when your blood pressure is high, that’s why it’s often called the “silent killer”.
In some cases, you may feel symptoms of high blood pressure like headache, dizziness, or nosebleeds. This is more common when your blood pressure numbers are very high.
Because there aren’t usually signs of high blood pressure, the only way to know for sure if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked.
Among adults in the U.S. who have high blood pressure, more than 11 million don’t even know they have it. That’s because there usually isn’t a simple connection between symptoms and blood pressure measurements. In fact, high blood pressure often causes no warning signs at all — even when it’s very high. And people can have it without knowing for a long time.
So can you ever feel symptoms of high blood pressure? Let’s see if this is possible and why it’s important to know your blood pressure levels.
What is high blood pressure, and why is it important to know if you have it?
High blood pressure — also called hypertension — is when the force of the blood pushing against artery walls is too high. A normal blood pressure is a systolic pressure of 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 80 mmHg, written as 120/80.
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If either of your numbers is high on several occasions, your healthcare provider may diagnose you with elevated or high blood pressure. If you don’t treat high blood pressure for a long period of time, you can develop serious health problems, including:
That’s why it’s important to know what your blood pressure is — even if it isn’t obvious to you that something might be wrong. And the good news is that blood pressure is easy and safe to measure in your healthcare provider’s office, local pharmacy, or even in the comfort of your own home.
Quiz: Am I at risk for high blood pressure?
What are high blood pressure numbers?
The definition of high blood pressure is a top number above 130 mmHg or a bottom number above 80 mmHg on several occasions. Both numbers don’t need to be high for you to have high blood pressure. If either number is outside of the normal range repeatedly, your healthcare provider may tell you that you have high blood pressure.
If you have high blood pressure numbers, you and your healthcare professional can work together to look for a cause and decide on the best plan of action. They’ll figure out if you need treatment for your high blood pressure.
Are there symptoms of high blood pressure that you can feel?
Usually there are no warning signs or high blood pressure symptoms — even if blood pressure is dangerously high. That’s why a person can have high blood pressure for many years and not know it — until there’s already damage to organs like the heart, kidneys, and brain.
Although no one should rely on symptoms or signs to identify high blood pressure, some signs of high blood pressure may include:
It may be more likely to feel high blood pressure symptoms when your blood pressure is extremely high.
What are the dangers of high blood pressure?
Though it’s rare, a large and sudden increase in blood pressure can be dangerous. A systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure greater than 120 mmHg is a “hypertensive crisis.” But any sudden increase in blood pressure can be a medical emergency. There are two types of hypertensive crises — and both require immediate medical attention:
Hypertensive urgency: This happens when blood pressure is higher than 180/120, but there’s no evidence of organ damage.
Hypertensive emergency: This happens when there’s evidence of damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, or brain.
What does a high blood pressure emergency feel like?
When blood pressure gets to the stage of a hypertensive emergency, many people report symptoms, such as:
Severe headache
Sudden and severe back pain
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
New or sudden difficulty breathing
If your blood pressure is 180/120 or greater and you’re having any of the symptoms above, call 911 and/or get to the nearest emergency room.
If I don’t have symptoms, how can I tell if my blood pressure is too high?
Keeping track of your blood pressure measurements is usually the only way to know it’s high. It’s especially important to check your blood pressure if you have risk factors for high blood pressure, such as:
Having a family history of hypertension
Being older
Having a heavier body weight
Being African American
To measure blood pressure, you can use a blood pressure monitor and a velcro band (or “cuff”) that wraps around your upper arm. As the monitor turns on, the cuff inflates and then releases. It will measure the highest (systolic, top number) and lowest pressure (diastolic, bottom number) in your blood vessels.
Measuring blood pressure at home
The American Heart Association recommends blood pressure monitoring at home. This is because a medical visit can cause anxiety in some people. And this can temporarily raise the blood pressure — also known as “white coat hypertension.” Another reason to check blood pressure at home is to monitor how well your blood pressure medications are working.
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it’s a good idea to invest in a blood pressure machine. Be sure to purchase a blood pressure cuff that the American Medical Association has approved. You can find most of these devices online and in pharmacies.
Can I use my smartwatch to keep track of my blood pressure?
More than 20% of people in the U.S. use a smartwatch or fitness tracker. The Omron Heartguide is the first smartwatch cleared by the FDA for blood pressure monitoring. It uses an inflatable cuff inside the watch band. Newer technology using LED lights and special sensors to measure blood pressure with smartwatches is still being perfected. Find out more about how you can use smartwatches to monitor your heart health here.
Remember, home blood pressure monitoring devices aren’t a substitute for a visit with your healthcare provider. So if you have concerns about your blood pressure, it may be time to check in with your healthcare professional’s office — especially if it’s been a while since you last visited.
The bottom line
High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because most people have no idea they have it — until they have a serious complication. Usually the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to measure it in a healthcare provider’s office or at home with a personal monitor. So don’t rely on signs and symptoms to warn you of high blood pressure — know your blood pressure numbers, especially if you have a family history or risk factors for high blood pressure.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Heart Association. (2023). Hypertensive crisis: When you should call 911 for high blood pressure.
American Heart Association. (2023). Monitoring your blood pressure at home.
American Heart Association. (2023). Understanding blood pressure readings.
American Heart Association. (2023). What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). High blood pressure symptoms and causes.
Elgendi, M., et al. (2019). The use of photoplethysmography for assessing hypertension. NPJ Digital Medicine.
Franklin, S. S., et al. (2013). White-coat hypertension. Hypertension.
Million Hearts. (2023). Undiagnosed hypertension. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Omron. (n.d.). HeartGuide™.
Rossi, G. P., et al. (2021). Management of hypertensive emergencies: A practical approach. Blood Pressure.
Shimbo, D., et al. (2020). Self-measured blood pressure monitoring at home: A joint policy statement from the American Heart Association and American Medical Association. Circulation.
U.S. Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing. (n.d.). Blood pressure devices. American Medical Association.
Vogels, E. A. (2020). About one-in-five Americans use a smart watch or fitness tracker. Pew Research Center.
