High blood pressure often doesn’t cause symptoms in its early stages. A person can have elevated blood pressure for years without feeling any discomfort.
In some cases, when blood pressure reaches very high levels, severe headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, or chest pain may occur. However, many people remain completely asymptomatic, so the only way to detect it is by measuring blood pressure.
Factors that increase the risk
There are several factors that can contribute to the development of hypertension, including:
- Advanced age.
- Family history.
- Overweight or obesity.
- Excessive salt consumption.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Smoking.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Chronic stress.
Although some factors cannot be changed, adopting healthy habits can help reduce risk and improve blood pressure control.
