March 4, 2026, 4:39 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
According to WHO estimates, around 1.28 billion 30- to 79-year-olds worldwide suffer from high blood pressure—around half of them are unaware of it. The figures are alarming in that arterial hypertension can have dramatic consequences for health. This makes it all the more important to look out for possible signs at an early stage and to interpret them correctly.
Several factors make it difficult to recognize whether a person is suffering from high blood pressure. These factors contribute to the insidious and dangerous nature of the condition. On the one hand, high blood pressure does not cause any symptoms for a long time and is difficult to diagnose, which is why it is also known as the “silent killer.” Secondly, sporadic measurements taken as part of examinations are only of limited value, as excitement, physical exertion, or caffeine can cause a short-term increase in blood pressure that has no pathological value. However, permanently elevated values, for example, at night or during other rest periods, are problematic.
Overview
Detect High Blood Pressure as Early as Possible
The WHO estimates that around half of people worldwide who suffer from high blood pressure are unaware of it.1 If detected early, hypertension could be much less daunting. Often, even small lifestyle changes can significantly impact one’s health. And even those who already suffer from high blood pressure can make a big difference with the right strategies. Doctors therefore also recommend having your blood pressure checked at least once a year, and preferably twice a year from the age of 50. If blood pressure values are too high, a competent doctor can arrange any further diagnostic tests, taking other risk factors into account. For patients at risk, it is also worth purchasing a blood pressure monitor (from 20 euros). They should then record their values at regular intervals and see a doctor if they are too high.
Measuring Blood Pressure Correctly – 4 Simple Tips
- It is best to measure your blood pressure in the morning and evening; sit quietly for about five minutes beforehand, leaning back and not crossing your legs
- Ideally, do not drink coffee or alcohol beforehand and empty your bladder
- The measuring cuff must be at heart level for both upper arm and wrist measurements
- It is best to measure three times at intervals of one to two minutes and take the average value
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What Symptoms Can Indicate High Blood Pressure?
Even if high blood pressure does not trigger any obvious symptoms for a long time, the body does send a few signals. However, these are often not specific. Nevertheless, anyone who notices the following signs should have their values determined:
- difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
- frequent restlessness and nervousness
- ringing in the ears or even noises in the ear
- palpitations at the temples
- frequently feeling unwell
- visual disturbances
- headaches and/or dizziness, especially under stress
- neck pain (according to one study)2
- morning headaches
- feeling listless
- sweating
- more frequent nosebleeds
- shortness of breath
- in women: menopausal symptoms
- in men: erectile dysfunction
The challenge in interpreting certain symptoms is that they may also suggest low blood pressure (hypotension). If this is the case, people should still have their values checked regularly. This is because a tendency to low blood pressure values can also turn into hypertension over time. This situation is concerning, as those affected may not realize that their condition could have changed.
In menopausal women, the typical menopausal symptoms, such as sleep disorders, mood swings, general malaise, headaches, and dizziness, pose a challenge for recognizing high blood pressure. Signs of hypertension might be mistakenly attributed to symptoms of hormonal changes. This is all the more important as the majority of women develop hypertension “in the first few years after menopause,” according to the Hypertension League.
High blood pressure is particularly dangerous in connection with menopause. According to research, women before the menopause are better supplied with the female sex hormone estrogen, which lowers blood pressure and therefore has a preventative effect. Following menopause, a hormonal shift occurs, potentially leading to an increase in unhealthy abdominal fat and obesity.
When Do I Need to See a Doctor?
Given the prevalence of high blood pressure and the fact that patients do not succumb to the condition itself but to its secondary complications, hypertension might seem deceptively benign to some. However, this widespread disease should always be taken seriously, as it leaves traces and damage in the body unnoticed, similar to undetected type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is therefore advisable to consult a doctor as soon as the first reading is too high. People who experience nosebleeds for no reason and those who frequently wake up with headaches should also visit a doctor. Other physical symptoms that should prompt a visit to the doctor are a frequent feeling of drowsiness, previously unknown sweating, palpitations, dizzy spells, and visual disturbances.