Do I Have Hypertension?

Are you over 50 years old or of African or Caribbean origin?

Do you often have headaches?

Do you have vision problems such as blurred, unclear and unfocused vision?

Do you feel pounding in your chest, neck or ears?

Do you have facial flushing (your face become red and hot) or nosebleeds?

Do you have shortness of breath during daily activities?

Have you experience sudden dizziness and loss of balance?

Do you drink alcohol daily, do you smoke or are you overweight?

Does your diet include food rich in salt, fatty food or do you have low potassium intake?

Do you have high levels of stress in your life, you have a hard time relaxing and you often feel irritable?

Do you have a sedentary lifestyle (you spend a lot of time sitting and you are physically inactive)?

Do you have long-term sleeping difficulty?

Have you had a measurement of high blood pressure at your last medical examination?

Do you have a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease or high cholesterol?

Do you have any of the following conditions: kidney disease, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy or problems with your thyroid or adrenal gland?

Do you use any of the following medications: contraceptive pill, steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen, OTC cough and cold drugs or antidepressants?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have hypertension. One of the most dangerous features of this condition is that a person with hypertension may not notice any symptoms for years. Actually, one third of people with high blood pressure do not know that they have it. For this reason, hypertension is often referred to as a "silent killer”. Undetected and uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke, so it is very important to check your blood pressure regularly, especially if you have family members with hypertension.

Based on your answers, there is a high possibility that you have hypertension. Hypertension is a common condition in adults that develops slowly over many years and there are many causes for hypertension. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to serious complications, so it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible for blood pressure readings and necessary testing. Since blood pressure usually varies throughout the day, your doctor will probably take several blood pressure readings, each at a separate appointment, before diagnosing you with hypertension. Treatment for hypertension involves lifestyle changes and, when needed, medication.