7. Dizziness
Dizziness is never a normal occurrence and one that should be taken seriously. Aside from it being a sign of hypertension, dizziness in itself is a hazard and may cause one to lose his balance which may lead to injury. This loss of coordination may not directly be a sign of hypertension, but having yourself checked might help diagnose high blood pressure when it happens. One particular condition that causes sudden dizziness and loss of balance and coordination is stroke.
Stroke is a condition where part of the brain’s blood supply is cut off due to a blockage inside a blood vessel. These blockages or emboli are oftentimes blood clots or dislodged plaques of fatty deposits that line the insides of vessel walls. Increased blood pressure forces these fragments to break off and travel towards the brain where they get stuck, blocking the blood from reaching certain parts of the brain, starving it totally of needed nutrients and oxygen, thereby paralyzing part of a person’s body, depending on which part of the brain is affected. Controlling high blood pressure greatly decreases the chances of stroke and being aware of signs such as dizziness could mean the difference between life and death.
