Fatigue and high blood pressure are related in several ways. In people with untreated chronic high blood pressure, fatigue can be a symptom as well as an indicator of damage to the cardiovascular system. Also, certain medications used to control high blood pressure have fatigue as a side effect, especially during the adjustment period when patients first start taking the medication. High blood pressure is usually associated with a constellation of other symptoms.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is defined as the point where blood pressure measurements begin to reach 140/90 or higher. Many people do not experience symptoms, especially in the early stage, and the increased pressure does not directly cause fatigue. However, if the patient is not treated, chronic hypertension begins to damage the body's organs, including the kidneys, heart, eyes, and brain.
When organs are damaged due to high blood pressure, the patient can quickly become fatigued. He or she may also experience symptoms such as nausea, blurred vision, and confusion, depending on which organs are damaged and the extent of the damage. Such symptoms may prompt the patient to seek medical attention, and if high blood pressure has not yet been identified, it is likely to be diagnosed at this time. A medical professional will also ask about your symptoms to assess the severity and duration of the problem.
Patients with high blood pressure who start taking medication to control it when other measures don't work may also develop fatigue. In this case, fatigue and high blood pressure are related because when people start taking medication, the body can feel reduced blood flow as blood pressure begins to drop. This can cause dizziness and fatigue until the body adjusts to more normal blood pressure, at which point the patient should start to feel better. Patients on medication who are experiencing fatigue can discuss the possibility of medication vacations with a healthcare professional during the adjustment period if they feel the fatigue is debilitating.
People can avoid fatigue and other problems by taking immediate action when their blood pressure begins to rise. In the early stages, hypertension may be manageable with diet and exercise, before any damage is done or medication is needed. Having regular blood pressure measurements will allow people to identify increases in blood pressure when the problem is still easy to treat.