Understanding Hypertension: Common Signs to Watch for

10. Kidney Damage

High blood pressure can damage many parts of the body, as is clear from the wide range of symptoms it can cause. The kidneys are just one of the organs that can suffer damage if hypertension goes untreated or becomes severe. Hypertension can damage the blood vessels that feed the kidneys, which makes the organ less capable of carrying out its vital roles. If a doctor diagnoses kidney disease prior to high blood pressure, the latter is likely something he or she will investigate as the cause. Kidney damage can lead to many of the same symptoms as hypertension, including nausea, headaches, and shortness of breath, but also symptoms specific to the urinary tract such as feeling pressure or pain during urination and changes in urine color or volume.