10. Seizures
Not all patients with hypertension would have seizures. What’s more, they are common in a small subgroup of patients. However, we have listed seizures because they are quite important in pregnant women with high blood pressure readings. There’s a lethal condition called pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, which is hypertension during pregnancy and may lead to several complications, including preterm labor and miscarriages. It can be quite dangerous for both the mother and the fetus and needs an urgent assessment, usually requiring hospitalization to keep close track to blood pressure readings. In some cases, young patients with hypertension would also experience seizures without being pregnant. Either way, this is a distressing alarm symptom that may be related to various causes and needs urgent medical attention.
You may have noticed that most of the signs and symptoms described above are experienced during an event called “hypertensive crisis.” Hypertension is asymptomatic by itself and patients may spend most of their lives without a single symptom. The problem is that asymptomatic high blood pressure causes gradual damage to various organs such as the heart, kidneys, and brain. Sustained high blood pressure may lead to irreversible organ failure, and waiting for a hypertensive crisis would put yourself at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Thus, it is best to measure your blood pressure readings regularly, even if you do not have any symptoms associated with hypertension, and keep track of your blood pressure readings for one week if you have a doubt. Ask your physician and follow his advice if you suspect high blood pressure, especially if you have associated conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance.
