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My blood pressure is high
Headache
Dizziness
High bp
Blood pressure rising after eating
Shortness of breath
Vertigo
Blood pressure rising at night
Lightheadedness
Nosebleed
Blurred vision
High bp in pregnancy
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
Hypertension is high blood pressure (increased pressure of blood against blood vessel walls). It's classified into primary and secondary. Primary is when the cause is unknown. Secondary is due to underlying conditions, such as kidney or thyroid disease. Risk factors include smoking, being overweight, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption, stress, genetics, etc. There are often no symptoms. If untreated, it can cause health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
Treatment involves medications to lower blood pressure, as well as lifestyle modifications such as a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Oct 18, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Q.
Can blood pressure medications cause dizziness?
A.
Yes, blood pressure medications can sometimes cause dizziness as a side effect. See below to understand more.
References:
Burrell LM. (1997). A risk-benefit assessment of losartan potassium in the .... Drug safety, 9010643.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9010643/
Nicholson JP, Resnick LM, Pickering TG, Marion R, Sullivan P, & Laragh JH. (1985). Relationship of blood pressure response and the renin .... The American journal of medicine, 3881942.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3881942/
Capone P, Vukovich RA, Neiss ES, Bolton S, & Reeves RL. (1983). Multicenter dose-response study of the effect .... Clinical therapeutics, 6342786.
Q.
How much salt should I limit if I'm on hypertension medicine?
A.
If you have high blood pressure and take medication, it's important to limit your salt intake to help manage your condition. Experts suggest keeping your daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams, and ideally around 1,500 milligrams for better results. See below to understand more.
References:
Nolan P, & McEvoy JW. (2024). Salt restriction for treatment of hypertension - current state .... Current opinion in cardiology, 38078601.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38078601/
Gupta DK, Lewis CE, Varady KA, Su YR, Madhur MS, Lackland DT, et al. (2023). Effect of Dietary Sodium on Blood Pressure: A Crossover Trial. JAMA, 37950918.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37950918/
van Brummelen P, Schalekamp M, & de Graeff J. (1978). Influence of sodium intake on hydrochlorothiazide-induced .... Acta medica Scandinavica, 696414.
Q.
Should I take my blood pressure medicine in the morning or at night?
A.
Some studies suggest taking blood pressure medicine at night may help reduce heart risks, but the best time can vary. It's important to follow your doctor's advice on when to take your blood ressenre medioson. See below to understand more.
References:
Maqsood MH, Messerli FH, Skolnick AH, Newman JD, Berger JS, & Bangalore S. (2023). Timing of Antihypertensive Drug Therapy: A Systematic .... Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979), 37212152.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37212152/
de la Sierra A, Ruilope LM, Martínez-Camblor P, Vinyoles E, Gorostidi M, Segura J, & Williams B. (2024). Impact of timing of antihypertensive treatment on mortality. Journal of hypertension, 37796235.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37796235/
Mackenzie IS, Rogers A, Poulter NR, Williams B, Brown MJ, Webb DJ, et al. (2022). Cardiovascular outcomes in adults with hypertension .... Lancet (London, England), 36240838.
Q.
What happens if I miss a dose of my hypertension medication?
A.
Missing a dose of your hypertension medication can cause your blood pressure to rise, but the effect varies depending on the medication you're taking. See below to understand more.
References:
de Leeuw PW, Fagard R, & Kroon AA. (2017). The effects of missed doses of amlodipine and losartan on .... Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension, 28100922.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28100922/
Hernández-Hernández R, Armas de Hernández MJ, Armas-Padilla MC, Carvajal AR, & Guerrero-Pajuelo J. (1996). The effects of missing a dose of enalapril versus .... Blood pressure monitoring, 10226213.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10226213/
Düsing R, Brunel P, Baek I, & Baschiera F. (2013). Sustained blood pressure-lowering effect of aliskiren .... Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.), 23282123.
Q.
What foods and drinks can help lower blood pressure?
A.
Certain foods and drinks can help lower blood pressure effectively. By incorporating these dietary changes into your daily routine, you can make significant strides in managing hypertension.
References:
Strilchuk L, Cincione RI, Fogacci F, Cicero AFG. Dietary interventions in blood pressure lowering: current evidence in 2020. Kardiol Pol. 2020 Aug 25;78(7-8):659-666. doi: 10.33963/KP.15468. Epub 2020 Jun 30. PMID: 32631027.
Appel LJ, Brands MW, Daniels SR, Karanja N, Elmer PJ, Sacks FM; American Heart Association. Dietary approaches to prevent and treat hypertension: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension. 2006 Feb;47(2):296-308. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000202568.01167.B6. PMID: 16434724.
Q.
What is the best ARB for high blood pressure? Comparing and differentiating ARB medications for hypertension.
A.
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are a class of medications commonly used to manage high blood pressure (hypertension) and other cardiovascular conditions. While all ARBs work by blocking the effects of angiotensin II, a hormone that constricts blood vessels, there are differences in their efficacy, safety profiles, and specific indications.
References:
Dézsi CA. The Different Therapeutic Choices with ARBs. Which One to Give? When? Why? Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2016 Aug;16(4):255-266. doi: 10.1007/s40256-016-0165-4. PMID: 26940560; PMCID: PMC4947116.
Abraham HM, White CM, White WB. The comparative efficacy and safety of the angiotensin receptor blockers in the management of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Drug Saf. 2015 Jan;38(1):33-54. doi: 10.1007/s40264-014-0239-7. PMID: 25416320; PMCID: PMC4303500.
Q.
What is a normal blood pressure for people in their 50s and 60s?
A.
The "normal range" for blood pressure is defined as a systolic blood pressure below 120 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure below 80 mmHg.
References:
Saiz LC, Gorricho J, Garjón J, Celaya MC, Erviti J, Leache L. Blood pressure targets for the treatment of people with hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Nov 18;11(11):CD010315. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010315.pub5. PMID: 36398903; PMCID: PMC9673465.
Whelton PK, Bundy JD, Carey RM. Intensive Blood Pressure Treatment Goals: Evidence for Cardiovascular Protection From Observational Studies and Clinical Trials. Am J Hypertens. 2022 Nov 2;35(11):905-914. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpac045. PMID: 35390116; PMCID: PMC9629457.
Flack JM, Adekola B. Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines. Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020 Apr;30(3):160-164. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.003. Epub 2019 May 15. PMID: 31521481.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1Doyle AE. Hypertension and vascular disease. Am J Hypertens. 1991 Feb;4(2 Pt 2):103S-106S. doi: 10.1093/ajh/4.2.103s. PMID: 2021454.
https://academic.oup.com/ajh/article/4/2_Pt_2/103S/173243Narkiewicz K. Diagnosis and management of hypertension in obesity. Obes Rev. 2006 May;7(2):155-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00226.x. PMID: 16629872.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00226.xOliveras A, de la Sierra A. Resistant hypertension: patient characteristics, risk factors, co-morbidities and outcomes. J Hum Hypertens. 2014 Apr;28(4):213-7. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2013.77. Epub 2013 Aug 29. PMID: 23985879.
https://www.nature.com/articles/jhh201377Elliott WJ. Systemic hypertension. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2007 Apr;32(4):201-59. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2007.01.002. PMID: 17398315.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0146280607000035?via%3DihubJudd E, Calhoun DA. Apparent and true resistant hypertension: definition, prevalence and outcomes. J Hum Hypertens. 2014 Aug;28(8):463-8. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2013.140. Epub 2014 Jan 16. PMID: 24430707; PMCID: PMC4090282.
https://www.nature.com/articles/jhh2013140