• Genes and health
• Conditions we cover
• Hypertension
• Complete scan
• Cancer scan
• Cardio scan

Mild to moderate hypertension usually has not obvious symptoms.

The deCODEme Complete test analyzes your DNA and provides you with a personal interpretation of your genetic risk of hypertension.

Having your blood pressure checked is the only way to know if you have hypertension.

Hypertension usually has no obvious symptoms – knowing your genetic risk of hypertension may alert you to having your blood pressure checked regularly to identify hypertension before it causes avoidable damage

Hypertension usually has no obvious symptoms

For many people hypertension remains undiagnosed for too long because they experience no obvious symptoms of the disease. However, some people with hypertension may experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, irregular or rapid heartbeat, nosebleeds, fatigue, and blurred vision.

Regular blood-pressure checks are a safe and efficient way to detect hypertension

The only way to find out if you have hypertension is to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure or if your deCODEme Complete test identifies that you are at increased risk for hypertension. Based on a comprehensive risk assessment, your doctor can advise you on how frequently your blood pressure needs to be monitored.

Symptoms of severe hypertension

Some people experience a mild headache when their blood pressure is elevated. If headaches become severe, or if you experience any of the symptoms listed below, you must see your doctor or healthcare professional right away because these symptoms may be a sign of dangerously high blood pressure (hypertension stage 2 or above (see table – Hypertension), also called malignant hypertension) or a serious complication of hypertension (like a Heart Attack):

• Sudden fatigue
• Abnormal sensation such as numbness or weakness of the arms, legs, face, or other areas
• Change in mental status, such as decreased alertness, decreased ability to concentrate, confusion, sleepiness
• Blurred vision, or other visual changes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Anxiety or restlessness
• Perspiration
• Pale or red skin
• Angina-like pain, pressure sensation or crushing chest pain, most commonly mid-chest location
• Decreased urinary output

This content was last reviewed on February 22, 2011.

The conditions we cover: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Alcohol Flush Reaction, Alzheimer’s Disease, Asthma, Atrial Fibrillation, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Bitter Taste Perception, Bladder Cancer, Brain Aneurysm, Brain Cancer-Glioma, Breast Cancer, Celiac Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Colorectal Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Essential Tremor, Exfoliation Glaucoma, Eye Color, Gallstones, Gout, Heart Attack, Hemochromatosis, Hypertension, Kidney Stones, Lactose Intolerance, Lung Cancer, Male Pattern Baldness, Multiple Sclerosis, Nicotine Dependence, Obesity, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Prostate Cancer, Psoriasis, Restless Legs Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Ulcerative Colitis, Venous Thromboembolism.