A person suffering from a mild increase in blood pressure does not show any signs and symptoms. However, when the blood pressure becomes extremely high above the normal range, the person may suffer from severe headache, fatigue, vision problems, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, blood in urine, difficulty with breathing, pounding in the chest, neck, ears, etc.

The treatment includes diet, exercise, and medication — omega-3 supplements, a diet low in salt and fats, and no alcohol consumption or smoking. The different ways to treat blood pressure by medication include diuretics, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers, and beta-blockers.

One can lower blood pressure with medications or with the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH). High blood pressure, being a chronic disease, can be managed but cannot be cured.

High blood pressure can lead to various complications such as cardiovascular diseases like heart attack, stroke, heart failure; weakened and narrowed blood vessels present in kidneys, dementia, vision loss, trouble with memory, hypertensive encephalopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, etc.

A person should follow a DASH diet which is rich in nutrients like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and fibre, and low in saturated fats, sugars, and salts. Avoid foods high in salt to reduce sodium intake, eat vegetables, fruits; low-fat dairy products, whole grains, reduce alcohol consumption, quit smoking, avoid coffee, etc.