Dizziness due to high blood pressure
High blood pressure is one of the most common diseases and risk factors in the western world. About 50% of all adults have an average arterial blood pressure of over 140/90, which exceeds the limits for high blood pressure. Further factors such as obesity or lack of exercise increase the risk of suffering from high blood pressure many times over.
High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for diseases of the cardiovascular system but also of numerous other organs. In the short term a slightly increased blood pressure does not cause any damage and is almost always asymptomatic. In the long term, however, or in so-called acute “blood pressure crises”, damage can be caused to the heart, vessels, brain, kidneys, eyes and numerous other regions of the body. Dizziness is a rare symptom of the often symptomless high blood pressure. However, it can indicate an acute derailment or already occurred damage of chronic high blood pressure.
Why can high blood pressure cause dizziness?
Normally, high blood pressure does not cause any symptoms. However, due to unexplained processes in the brain, short-term elevated blood pressure levels can lead to neurological limitations. This is due to a congestion of fluid and metabolites in several areas of the brain caused by the high pressure in the arterial blood vessels. Typical symptoms in these cases may include dizziness, ringing in the ears, palpitations and headaches. In the long term and in cases of severe blood pressure derailment, numerous other, sometimes severe, symptoms can follow.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of high blood pressure can be made with very simple means. Since the symptoms are often negligible, the diagnosis is mainly made on the basis of a blood pressure measurement taken during exercise and over 24 hours. This allows average values to be observed during the day, at rest and under stress, as well as a decrease at night, in order to determine the extent of hypertension. In order to diagnose consequential damages of a long-term high blood pressure, radiological vascular examinations, ophthalmologic clarifications or examinations of the abdominal organs can be performed if necessary.
