Fatigue and high blood pressure: Is there a connection?

BLOOD pressure refers to how hard your blood pushes against the walls of your arteries. It’s normal for blood pressure to rise and fall a bit during the day. However, when blood pressure remains high over a sustained period of time, you likely have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

High blood pressure is fairly common. In the United States, nearly half Trusted Source of adults have high blood pressure or take medication to treat it.

High blood pressure has a well-deserved reputation as the “silent killer.” That’s because there are often no symptoms until there’s a life threatening complication, like a heart attack or stroke.

Some people with high blood pressure do experience fatigue, but what’s the connection between them? This article will help provide answers to that question.

What’s considered high blood pressure?

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers:

Systolic pressure. The first or top number tells you what the pressure is in your arteries during heartbeats.
Diastolic pressure. The second or bottom number tells you what the pressure is in your arteries between heartbeats.

According to the American Heart Association, a normal or healthy blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). The following categories define blood pressure readings that are above this level.

Elevated. This is a systolic number between 120 and 129 mm Hg and a diastolic number less than 80 mm Hg.
Stage 1 hypertension. Stage 1 is a systolic number between 130 and 139 mm Hg or a diastolic reading between 80 and 89 mm Hg.
Stage 2 hypertension. Stage 2 is a systolic pressure that’s 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher.
Hypertensive crisis. This is a systolic pressure over 180 mm Hg or diastolic pressure over 120 mm Hg. Blood pressure in this range requires medical attention right away.

Can high blood pressure make you feel tired?

Feeling tired may be connected to high blood pressure itself. It may also be a symptom of a coexisting condition. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to several serious complications that can cause fatigue.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways that high blood pressure may result in feelings of fatigue or tiredness.

Coronary artery disease

High blood pressure can damage your arteries or cause them to narrow, which can impair blood flow.

In addition to fatigue, other symptoms of coronary artery disease can include:

chest pain or tightness (angina)
shortness of breath
pain in the arms or shoulders
irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)

Peripheral arterial disease

High blood pressure can lead to narrowed arteries in your limbs, stomach, and head. In addition to fatigue, symptoms of peripheral arterial disease can include:

pain in your calves when you’re walking that goes away with rest
tingling or numbness in your lower legs or feet
sores that heal slowly on your legs or feet

Enlarged heart and heart failure

High blood pressure means your heart has to work that much harder. It’s a muscle, so that extra work results in an enlarged heart.

A bigger heart requires more oxygen, but it’s hard to maintain a good blood flow to get oxygen to the heart. Without treatment, the strain can lead to heart failure.

Kidney damage

High blood pressure can limit blood flow to your kidneys. It can also damage tiny blood vessels within your kidneys, making it difficult for them to do their job of filtering blood. Eventually, it can lead to kidney failure.

Other causes for fatigue with high blood pressure

Although fatigue can be a symptom of high blood pressure, a lack of sleep may actually be a contributing factor, too.

Sleeping 5 hours or less per night may raise your risk for developing high blood pressure. And if you already have high blood pressure, lack of sleep could be making it worse.

In addition, obstructive sleep apnea is a known risk factor for hypertension, especially in older age groups.

Some prescription medications used to treat high blood pressure can also cause fatigue.

Another cause of fatigue could be due to pulmonary artery hypertension. This is when you have high blood pressure in the vessels that carry blood between your heart and lungs. Along with fatigue, it can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness.

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What are the most common symptoms of high blood pressure?

There are usually no symptoms or warning signs that you have hypertension. That’s why it’s so important to monitor your blood pressure.

It’s especially important to see your doctor if you’re experiencing:

fatigue
lightheadedness
general weakness
shortness of breath
chest pain or pressure
irregular heart rhythm
unexpected headaches or pain in your limbs
difficulty performing your usual physical activities

How is high blood pressure treated?

Regular blood pressure checks are the best way to diagnose hypertension early. As mentioned above, a reading of 120/80 mm Hg or less is considered healthy for adults.

Anyone can have a single high reading. Your doctor probably won’t make a diagnosis of hypertension until you’ve had multiple high blood pressure readings.

Your doctor will likely suggest some lifestyle recommendations to lower your blood pressure, such as:

a heart-healthy diet like
regular exercise
not smoking
quality sleep
stress management
drinking alcohol in moderation

Your doctor will also consider your age, coexisting conditions, and any other medications you take when treating your blood pressure. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe hypertension medications. These include:

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ARBs and ACE inhibiters help keep your blood vessels from narrowing.
Beta blockers. Beta blockers make your heart beat slower and less forcefully. As a result, your heart pumps less blood through your blood vessels.
Calcium channel blockers. This medication manages calcium so your blood vessels can relax.
Diuretics. These remove extra water and sodium, which reduces fluid in your blood vessels.

Some of these medications can cause you to feel tired.

Other treatments depend on the extent of damage to your heart, kidneys, and overall health.

What can you do to help prevent high blood pressure?

There are many risk factors for hypertension, some of which are within your control. You may be able to lower your risk for developing high blood pressure by:

following a healthy, balanced, low-salt diet
getting regular exercise
maintaining a healthy weight
not smoking
keeping alcohol and caffeine intake to a minimum
getting good quality sleep
carefully managing your care plan for any chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, or metabolic syndrome

Ask your doctor if any of your medications could potentially contribute to high blood pressure and how that can be managed. Also, be sure to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

There are several ways that feeling tired may be connected to hypertension. Fatigue can be a symptom of heart or kidney damage as a result of high blood pressure. Feelings of tiredness may also be linked to hypertension medications, lifestyle, or coexisting conditions.

Certain lifestyle changes may help lower your blood pressure or reduce your risk for developing hypertension in the first place. If needed, there are also different types of medications that can help.

The best way to get a handle on your blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. Fatigue is a quality of life issue, but there’s help. Report this and other new or worsening symptoms to your doctor. – bbc.com