Hypertension can sometimes confuse both the patient and the doctor for a couple of reasons. one, the physical symptoms of high blood pressure can vary quite widely. which leads us to the second reason – these symptoms can be synonymous to other illnesses. That’s why, in dealing with any illness, a thorough examination of the patient, including checking blood pressure, is essential.

High blood pressure is a scapegoat for many a doctor, even if he/she is diagnosing a patient due to a totally unrelated condition. Many organs, conversely, are affected by hypertension if left undiagnosed, such as the kidneys, liver and the heart. It could lead to vision problems and strokes in extreme cases.

Some of the most common physical symptoms of high blood pressure include headaches, blurred vision, convulsions, clinical depression, labored walking or exertion and extreme excitement or giddiness.

Difficulty in even minor physical exertion and unusual tiredness may be signs of cardiac damage from high blood pressure. other signs that may manifest themselves include unusually deep breathing and sweating. This is a serious situation and calls for immediate medical attention.

If you experience pain while urinating or need to go more often than usual, this means your kidneys may have been damaged. a pasty complexion may be observed, caused by a lack of electrolytes and poor hydration.

High blood pressure can affect vision causing lesions in the ocular region. Lack of immediate attention could cause a total loss of vision.

But again, these symptoms are common to so many other illnesses that many doctors miss out on the main cause. Doctors need to look for underlying causes that may be related to high blood pressure. Comprehensive testing may be necessary to zero in on the real problem.

In the event of organ damage, it is common for doctors to fail to spot the real underlying cause, that being hypertension, or high blood pressure. Blood pressure checks are done for many illnesses in order to avoid false diagnosis.

Diabetes and hypertension share many common symptoms if you come to think of it. In fact, a lot of them resemble those of your average drunkard hauled in for the night after creating a ruckus! This has led to many a physician failing to notice hypertension or to treat it just because he/she jumped to the conclusion that his/her patient had one drink too many the night before.

Myriad health issues can sprout from the wide range of physical symptoms of high blood pressure being left unnoticed. So it is crystal clear that seeing a doctor once you experience the above symptoms should be your first and only priority.

Achieve peak physical condition with these weight training tips.

Bassaleg mum raises cash for painful condition

11:20am Friday 6th may 2011

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JENNIFER Mein’s fright at being diagnosed with lupus after around three years of debilitating illness, soon gave way to determination to raise awareness of the disease.

despite symptoms including extreme tiredness, severe joint pain and sensitivity to sunlight, the Bassaleg mother-of-three has organised a fundraising event for charity Lupus UK.

And she hopes that by telling her story, she can also do something to help educate the wider public about lupus.

Lupus is the term for a group of incurable diseases in which the body’s immune system begins to attack itself. Around 50,000 people UK-wide live with lupus, nine-in-10 being female, and it mainly develops between 15-55 years.

Its exact cause is unknown, but triggers are thought to include stress, UV light exposure, and other environmental factors.

mrs Mein, 36, was diagnosed in January with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

some people suffer lupus that affects mainly the skin. But with SLE, joints, muscles and organs can be affected and the disease can kill in extreme cases.

“I’d been to my doctor with knee and elbow pains and developed a terrible rash where my skin was exposed to sunlight,” said mrs Mein, who lives with husband Robert and children Ashleigh, 15, Elliot, 13, and Erin, nine, in Laurel Road, Bassaleg.

“I had a back operation and the anaesthetist told me afterwards to get back to my GP about the rash, which got worse in hospital.

“I’ve had creams, steroids, antibiotics. Nothing worked, but a friend’s mum had lupus and said it sounded like that, so I asked to be tested.”

“I think I’ve had it about three years, but it can be very difficult to diagnose. I was very frightened because I know of someone who died of it at 26 years old.

“It was classed as a terminal illness until the 1970s, and a lot of the information about it is quite negative.”

mrs Mein is now on an anti-malaria drug to help suppress her symptoms, and also requires painkillers.

“There’s no cure, just minimising and managing it, but people with lupus suffer flare-ups. It’s a fickle disease, very unpredictable.”

THE fundraising and awareness evening will be held at Bassaleg and Rogerstone Social Club on Friday may 27, starting at 7.30pm, and includes a band, buffet, disco and raffle.

mrs Mein hopes to raise £1,000. “This is a debilitating and life threatening illness. I used to have an active social life, but now I’m in bed by 5pm or 6pm most nights, I have to cover up in the sun, and some days I can barely move for the pain,” she said.

“The whole fundraising thing is to do something positive, rather than sitting and worrying.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/Lupusfundraisingawareness

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