Symptoms of High Blood Pressure In All Ages That Should Not Be Ignored

Blood Pressure Range The average blood pressure for an adult is sometimes noted as 120/80 mm Hg. However, this is only an average and the healthcare provider needs to consider acceptable ranges for individual clients. For example, in adults, normal blood pressure can range from 95–145/60–90 mm Hg. The healthcare provider considers the client’s baseline blood pressure and the client’s current health state in conjunction with subjective data and other objective data. For example, a blood pressure of 90/50 mm Hg may be normal for a healthy, asymptomatic 20-year-old adult. Signs and symptoms Most people with high blood pressure will not experience any symptoms, which is why people often call hypertension the "silent killer." However, when blood pressure reaches about 180/120 mm Hg, it becomes a hypertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency. At this stage, a person may have:

headache
nausea
vomiting
dizziness
blurred or double vision
nosebleeds
heart palpitations
shortness of breath

Symptoms in women Hormonal factors mean that the risk of high blood pressure can be different in men and women. Factors that can increase the risk of high blood pressure in women include:

pregnancy
menopause
use of birth control pills

Symptoms of pre-eclampsia include:

headaches
changes in vision
abdominal pains
swelling due to edema

Symptoms in teens and people in their 20s Teens may develop high blood pressure due to obesity or an underlying medical condition. Possible medical factors include:

aspects of metabolic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes
kidney disease
endocrine diseases that affect hormones
vascular diseases that affect blood vessels
neurological conditions. These conditions can have their own symptoms.

The symptoms of high blood pressure, if they occur, will be the same as those of other groups. Symptoms in children High blood pressure can affect children. Having obesity and diabetes increases the risk, but other underlying causes include:

tumor
heart problems
kidney problems
obstructive sleep apnea
rheumatologic disorders
thyroid problems
genetic disease, such as Cushing's syndrome
use of certain medications
a diet high in fat and salt.

Symptoms in infants Newborns and very young children can sometimes have high blood pressure due to an underlying health condition, such as kidney or heart disease. Clinical examinations may show there are problems with blood pressure or the cardiopulmonary system. Any symptoms may be nonspecific or unnoticeable, or hypertension may occur alongside symptoms of other conditions. An infant with high blood pressure may also experience: