Doctors Reveal Signs Of Silent High Blood Pressure

The subtle signs can be missed.

As your heart circulates blood throughout your body, it exerts pressure on your arteries to deliver oxygen and nutrients to your organs and tissues. This force, known as blood pressure, is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). While blood pressure can vary throughout the day based on your physical activity and stress levels, a typical healthy reading is generally under 120/80 mm Hg.

When your readings consistently exceed this threshold, you may be dealing with high blood pressure, or hypertension. This condition can significantly raise your risk for serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney failure, and cognitive decline.

Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it typically progresses without noticeable symptoms. It can quietly damage vital organs over time, which is why it’s essential to monitor your blood pressure regularly—ideally at home for better consistency. Still, there are certain subtle signs that might indicate dangerously high blood pressure levels, and paying attention to them could help prevent severe complications.

According to Dr. Snehal Smart, a physician and medical researcher at The Mesothelioma Center, “It’s important not to overlook these warning signs.”

Medical experts point to five lesser-known symptoms that could suggest your blood pressure is elevated:

1. Morning Headaches
   Frequent headaches, especially upon waking, may signal elevated blood pressure. Dr. Martina Ambardjieva, a urologist and educator at Dr Telx, explains that blood pressure naturally increases in the morning due to the release of hormones like adrenaline. This spike can raise pressure inside the skull, resulting in a dull, lingering headache.
2. Vision Changes
   If your eyesight becomes blurry or you experience double vision, it could be due to high blood pressure affecting the small blood vessels in the eyes. This condition, known as hypertensive retinopathy, can cause vision impairment or even lead to permanent loss of sight, according to both Ambardjieva and Smart.
3. Persistent Fatigue or Brain Fog
   Although fatigue can have many causes, it can also be linked to hypertension. Impaired blood flow to the brain may cause mental exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, and overall sluggishness. These symptoms may be early indicators of more serious neurological risks, such as stroke.
4. Shortness of Breath or Chest Discomfort
   Breathlessness and chest tightness may point to pulmonary hypertension—a form of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs. If your heart is under strain from elevated pressure, these symptoms might occur more frequently, especially if your condition is unmanaged or worsening.
5. Unexplained Nosebleeds
   While nosebleeds can result from many causes, recurring or unexpected ones might be linked to spikes in blood pressure. Smart notes that hypertension can damage the delicate blood vessels inside the nasal passages, and severe or sudden increases in pressure—such as during a hypertensive crisis—can trigger bleeding.