Common causes are kidney or thyroid disease. Many factors are associated with high blood pressure, including genetics, age, race, stress, obesity, smoking, a high-salt diet, smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, and a sedentary lifestyle. High blood pressure can develop over many years with no noticeable symptoms. That's why regular blood pressure checks are so important. Only when high blood pressure is severe do symptoms appear.
Warning signs can include nosebleeds, racing or irregular heartbeat, headaches, and dizziness.
High blood pressure is serious business. Allowed to run unchecked, it can cause many health problems, including heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and blindness. Six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure. Three times more likely to have a heart attack. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, it's extremely important that you follow your doctor's treatment guidelines to the letter.