Understanding a Flushed Face and High Blood Pressure

If your face is frequently flushed, you may be worried that you are suffering from high blood pressure. According to conventional wisdom, a flushed face is one of the symptoms of the disease. However, there is a reason why high blood pressure is referred to in the medical community as “the silent killer.” That’s because obvious symptoms, such as flushed skin, do not occur with this disease.

What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

So if a flushed face is not an indication of high blood pressure, is there anything that can alert you to the disease? The only clear-cut way to know is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. If you have a family history of hypertension, you should check your blood pressure regularly, even if you just use one of those self-serve machines in your local grocery store or pharmacy.

If you have severe hypertension, you may experience the following:

• Severe headache
• Confusion and dizziness
• Difficulty seeing
• Trouble with breathing
• Chest pain
• Blood in your urine
• Pounding sensation in your neck, ears, or chest

If you are experiencing any of those symptoms, you need to go the emergency room immediately.

What Causes a Flushed Face?

So if flushed skin is not an indication of high blood pressure, what does it mean? Any activity that causes the blood vessels in the face to dilate will cause a reddening of the skin. These factors include:

• Spicy foods
• Vigorous physical exercise
• Alcohol or hot drinks
• Sunburn or wind exposure
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Reaction to some skincare products.

If you are worried that your flushed skin is an indication of something serious, consult with your physician. There are some rare illnesses that can cause flushing, and your doctor can rule out any potentially dangerous possibilities.

Related posts:

• What Causes a Flushed Face
• How to Prevent a Flushed Face after Eating
• How to Prevent a Flushed Face during Exercise
• How to Prevent a Flushed Face during Pregnancy
• Understanding Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Levels