High Blood Pressure: Beware of the warning signs in your feet

High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood flowing in and through your blood vessels is too. 120/80 or lower is said to be a normal pressure. However, if it reaches 130/80 or exceeds it, it is considered high blood pressure. If your blood pressure reads 180/110 or higher, then it is important that you seek immediate medical assistance.

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High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, does not showcase any symptoms. This is why it is often referred to as a 'silent killer'. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), many people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it. The signs and symptoms are often misunderstood with something else, which results in delayed diagnosis and treatment. This in turn raises one's risk of heart problems including heart attack and stroke.

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There are times when high blood pressure can show itself in the body. When you experience symptoms, it is usually because the blood vessels around your body have been damaged. Many of the complications are said to occur in the lower body, which includes the leg and feet.

A high blood pressure can damage arteries and blood vessels in the lower part of the body. Often this can cause poor circulation in the legs. The condition associated with it is called peripheral artery disease (PAD).

According to the Mayo Clinic, PAD is a common condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs. It occurs because the legs and arms don't receive enough blood flow to keep up with demand. This may cause leg pain when walking (claudication) and other symptoms, explains the health body.

One of the symptoms of this condition is cold feet. This could arise along with cold hands, says the US Advanced Foot & Ankle Care Specialists.

The health body added: “Red or blue toes, tingling in the feet, and unexpected hair loss on the legs may all point to circulation issues.”

The British Heart Foundation lists down some of the symptoms that can occur due to the silent disease.

- Blurred vision

- Nosebleeds

- Shortness of breath

- Chest pain

- Dizziness

- Headaches

There are many ways to control and regulate high blood pressure. While your doctor may prescribe you some medications, you can always seek natural means to heal yourself. These include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, reducing salt in your diet and also refraining from unhealthy habits that include limiting alcohol and quitting smoking.

The UK National Health Services (NHS) explains, "The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure is. It recommends eating less than 6g (0.2oz) of salt a day, which is about a teaspoonful. A low-fat diet that includes lots of fiber, such as wholegrain rice, bread and pasta, and plenty of fruit and vegetables can also help lower blood pressure.