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Home arrow Health arrow Heart Health arrow Does High Blood Pressure Make You Tired? Facts, Signs, Treatment, and Prevention

Does High Blood Pressure Make You Tired? Facts, Signs, Treatment, and Prevention

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Written by Edibel Quintero, RD
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Fact checked by Rosmy Barrios, MD
Last update: October 11, 2023
7 min read 1234 Views 0 Comments
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High blood pressure for extended periods can contribute to all kinds of health problems. If you’re continuously feeling fatigued, you might wonder if your blood pressure has something to do with it. We bring you everything you need to know about hypertension, including possible symptoms, treatment, and prevention strategies.

does high blood pressure make you tired

Are you always feeling tired? If so, you might be wondering if your high blood pressure is to blame.

Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing up against your artery walls. It is the resistance that the heart pumps against. The force is created as the heart pumps blood into the blood vessels. It is important to have normal pressure for good health. 

With high blood pressure, the force of blood flowing is frequently too high. It brings significant health threats; if left untreated, it can increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Blood pressure monitoring allows you to determine if your blood pressure is in a normal range. With this information, you can detect possible health conditions early and begin treatment as soon as possible. 

Regular monitoring is crucial because, for most people, high blood pressure doesn’t come with physical symptoms. But if you’re feeling tired and out of sorts, there could be some potential warning signs. 

In this article, we review the relationship between high blood pressure and tiredness, possible indicators, and how to treat and prevent the condition. 

What Is Considered High Blood Pressure?

Your BP measurement reveals two numbers – the systolic and the diastolic.

Systolic blood pressure (the first number) is the pressure of blood in your arteries as your heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure (the second number) indicates the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. 

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg (120 systolic pressure and 80 diastolic pressure). According to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, a high blood pressure reading is 130/80 mmHg or over

Dangerously high levels, known as hypertensive crisis, are when systolic is over 180 and/or diastolic is over 120. A hypertensive crisis requires emergency care to prevent damage to blood vessels. 

What Are the Signs of High Blood Pressure? 

High blood pressure is sometimes called the silent killer because it rarely has noticeable symptoms. Without symptoms, high blood pressure can be left untreated for years and may only come to light when a life-threatening complication occurs. 

There is always an exception, however, and a few people may experience physical symptoms that can indicate high blood pressure.

These include:

  • Dizziness and lightheadedness 
  • Blurred vision
  • Shortness of breath 
  • Chest pain
  • Headaches 
  • Nosebleeds 

A blood pressure reading is the only reliable way to diagnose high blood pressure. It is a simple and painless procedure that confirms results quickly.

Does High Blood Pressure Make You Tired?

Some people with hypertension complain of tiredness. Fatigue symptoms may be a result of the condition itself, or it may be related to coexisting factors such as the following:

Blood pressure medications

An HBP diagnosis from your doctor may result in a prescription for high blood pressure medication. Many blood pressure medications cause tiredness. Beta-blockers, for instance, primarily work by slowing down the heart rate, causing you to feel tired and even dizzy or lightheaded.  

Lack of adequate sleep

Sleep deprivation is detrimental to health. Insufficient sleep can contribute to high blood pressure and heighten the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke.

Ordinarily, your blood pressure reduces as you sleep. But if you’re not sleeping enough or your sleep is interrupted by shift work or other sleep disturbances, your blood pressure remains higher for longer periods. 

Additionally, sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure and other heart-related problems. Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes you to stop and start breathing throughout sleep, causing daytime fatigue. 

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, your risk of sleep apnea can increase by factors like age, family history, and body features. 

Kidney disease 

High blood pressure can constrict the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys, limiting blood flow. This leads to the buildup of toxins in the blood, which can cause individuals to feel tired and weak. The inability to filter blood properly can eventually lead to kidney damage and failure.

Other complications of high BP can damage the blood vessels and make you feel tired, including:

How to Treat Hypertension 

Fortunately, there are ways to treat the health condition before dangerous complications arise. You can begin treatment with a visit to your doctor, where you can discuss strategies to combat fatigue and other symptoms related to the condition.

Treating hypertension primarily comes down to making lifestyle changes and creating healthy habits. Eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular exercise can significantly reduce your blood pressure.

#1 Talk to your doctor

Only a healthcare provider can confirm if you have hypertension. 

A doctor’s appointment is an important place to start if you have high blood pressure. They can offer professional medical advice and assist you in fighting the condition, from supporting you with lifestyle changes to prescribing blood pressure medication. 

#2 Quit smoking 

Smoking is detrimental to your overall health. It raises your blood pressure and heart rate and is a proven risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

Quitting smoking has numerous health benefits. It can improve your energy levels, stop you from feeling tired, reduce headaches, and lower blood pressure.

#3 Drink more fluids

Drinking water and maintaining proper hydration can help lower blood pressure. 

Although further research is necessary, dehydration is associated with hypertension. It can cause the blood to become thicker as the water content in the blood is reduced. 

Additionally, when you’re dehydrated, your body secretes the hormone vasopressin. When there is too much vasopressin, your blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction), which can increase blood pressure

#4 Try an app

A good way to manage your blood pressure is with a heart health app.

Such apps help you regain control of your cardiovascular health using performance tools and a personal health plan based on your blood pressure measurements. You can track your heart’s performance, monitor your progress, and view doctors’ reports to ensure you remain across all aspects of your health. 

Carrying excess weight is a top risk factor for hypertension as it places extra pressure on the heart. 

#5 Get a good night’s sleep

A regular sleep pattern with seven to eight hours of undisturbed sleep per night can both prevent and treat hypertension. Sleep helps the body control and regulate stress hormones, contributing to a healthier lifestyle and lowering blood pressure

If poor sleep results from sleep apnea, you should speak to your doctor about ways to treat the condition. For example, treatment may include continuous positive airway pressure (a CPAP machine).

How to Prevent High Blood Pressure 

There are several proven strategies you can undertake to prevent hypertension. But before making significant changes, you should talk to your healthcare provider. 

Many prevention methods are similar to the standard treatment options. They include:

FAQs

Is drinking water good for high blood pressure?

Yes, drinking enough water can help maintain healthy blood pressure and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Dehydration can trigger the release of the hormone vasopressin, which can cause the blood vessels to constrict, leading to high blood pressure.

Can being tired raise your blood pressure?

Tiredness caused by a lack of adequate sleep can cause high blood pressure and worsen already high blood pressure. Your blood pressure naturally reduces as you sleep. But without sufficient sleep, it remains higher for longer periods. You should aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night.

Does blood pressure medication make you tired?

Yes, many blood pressure medications can make you feel tired. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, for instance, slow down the heart rate, causing tiredness. You can reduce fatigue by eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly to increase blood flow as your body adapts to the medicine.

A Word From Our MD

High blood pressure is a chronic condition that can cause several health problems, including heart disease, heart attacks, and even heart failure. 

Hypertension is known as the silent killer because it rarely shows any physical symptoms. However, some individuals experience fatigue which may or may not be related to the condition itself.

In many cases, tiredness is a side effect of blood pressure medication. Alternatively, tiredness is connected to hypertension-related conditions such as coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and kidney problems.

In cases where levels become dangerously high, symptoms such as shortness of breath, severe headaches, and chest pains may appear. It is critical to seek medical attention if your tiredness worsens or you experience any of the above symptoms. 

Conclusion 

High blood pressure and tiredness may be connected, whether from medication or a coexisting condition. BP management is vital if you are at higher risk of high blood pressure. Failure to bring your blood pressure back to normal levels puts your health at serious risk. 

If you have high blood pressure, you can follow clinically proven methods to lower it. Best practices include regular physical activity, eating a nutritious diet, and eliminating risk factors that increase your blood pressure. 

Written by Edibel Quintero, RD
Edibel Quintero is a medical doctor who graduated in 2013 from the University of Zulia and has been working in her profession since then. She specializes in obesity and nutrition, physical rehabilitation, sports massage and post-operative rehabilitation. Edibel’s goal is to help people live healthier lives by educating them about food, exercise, mental wellness and other lifestyle choices that can improve their quality of life.
The article was fact checked by Rosmy Barrios, MD
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