Patient/caregiver was educated on signs and symptoms of hypertension as follows:
People with mild to moderate hypertension can be asymptomatic for the most part and not present with any findings. So, hypertension is considered a silent killer.
Individuals with extremely elevated blood pressures can present with signs and symptoms as follows:
- Vision problems
- Progressive damage to blood vessels in the retina, due to unresolved elevated blood pressure, can result in retinal bleeding, compromised blood supply to the retinal tissue, and retinal damage, thus affecting the visual function.
- This can lead to diminishing vision and in severe cases, even result in complete vision loss and blindness.
- Chest pain
- Chronic unresolved elevated blood pressure involving the coronary arteries, supplying oxygenated blood to the heart muscle, can result in damage and inflammation of coronary arteries.
- Damaged coronary arteries could lead to poor supply of oxygenated blood to heart muscle and result in chest pain and discomfort.
- In severe cases, compromised blood supply to heart muscle could lead to development of myocardial infarction or heart attack.
- Headache and confusion
- Elevated pressure in the blood vessels of the brain can result in episodes of throbbing headache, confusion, and fatigue.
- Persistent elevation of pressure in these blood vessels can result in weakening of the blood vessel and development of aneurysm, with potential to rupture and causing stroke.
