Many people assume high blood pressure comes with obvious warning signs; in reality, it often doesn\u2019t have any symptoms.<\/p>\n
Superintendent pharmacist and director of Pyramid Pharmacy Group Amir Bhogal explains: \u201cYou can have elevated readings and still feel completely fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why high blood pressure is often called the silent killer<\/a>. While some people experience headaches or shortness of breath when their blood pressure rises<\/a> significantly, Bhogal notes that \u201cmost people don’t experience any symptoms at all\u201d.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe5 When to get it checked:<\/p>\n Without regular monitoring, Bhogal warns: \u201cYou won’t know if your blood pressure is elevated until damage has already occurred.\u201d This is why routine checks, at a pharmacy<\/a> or your GP, are important \u2013 especially if \u201cyou have a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke\u201d.<\/p>\n 2. Persistent fatigue<\/p>\n Feeling tired after a long week is normal. However, as Bhogal explains, \u201cwaking up exhausted after a full night’s sleep is not.\u201d<\/p>\n When fatigue lasts longer than normal without any clear reason, and starts affecting everyday life, your body may be signalling something more serious.<\/p>\n According to the NHS<\/a>, persistent fatigue can be linked to:<\/p>\n \u201cThis is why it\u2019s essential that you take note of when tiredness goes beyond normal,\u201d Bhogal says.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe5 When to get it checked:<\/p>\n If fatigue becomes persistent, \u201cforcing you to cancel plans or struggle through work,\u201d raise it with your pharmacist or GP. \u201cFatigue paired with weight changes, fever or mood shifts may need further investigation,\u201d Bhogal explains.<\/p>\n 3. Blood sugar fluctuations<\/p>\n Sweating<\/a> or feeling jittery from time to time can happen, particularly if you\u2019re feeling stressed or anxious. However, as Bhogal explains, \u201cfrequent episodes can suggest your body isn’t regulating glucose properly\u201d.<\/p>\n When blood sugar isn\u2019t being controlled effectively, it can be an early sign of an underlying condition \u2013 such as diabetes \u2013 and may also cause symptoms<\/a> such as:<\/p>\n \u201cDiabetes often develops gradually, and these symptoms can be early indicators. You might notice feeling shaky or experience an unexpected racing heart,\u201d Bhogal adds.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe5 When to get it checked:<\/p>\n If episodes are becoming more regular, particularly alongside increased thirst or frequent urination<\/a>, Bhogal advises getting a blood test \u2013 usually via your GP or privately at some pharmacies \u2013 to investigate further.<\/p>\n Frequently needing to urinate could be a sign your blood sugar levels aren’t quite normal.<\/p>\n (Getty Images)4. Frequent headaches<\/p>\n Most people experience headaches from time to time, often linked to stress, dehydration or muscle tension. However, Bhogal stresses that when headaches become more frequent or change in intensity, they shouldn\u2019t be ignored.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe5 When to get it checked:<\/p>\n Headaches should be checked<\/a> by a medical professional if they don\u2019t respond to usual pain relief, start disrupting daily routines, arrive suddenly or severely or come with confusion or fever.<\/p>\n NHS guidance advises getting an urgent GP appointment or calling NHS 111 if you have a severe headache alongside symptoms such as jaw pain when eating, blurred or double vision, a sore or tender scalp, or numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.<\/p>\n 5. Digestive changes<\/p>\n Digestive symptoms can be caused by a number of things, including stress<\/a> or changes in routine, and many settle on their own. However, Bhogal says persistent changes without explanation could point to other issues including those affecting organs such as the liver, pancreas or gallbladder.<\/p>\n Digestive changes could include:<\/p>\n Ongoing diarrhoea or constipation<\/p>\n Stomach pain that doesn\u2019t ease<\/p>\n Changes in the colour or consistency of stools<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe5 When to get it checked:<\/p>\n The pharmacist stresses if your digestion changes and these changes persist for more than two or three weeks, it\u2019s important not to dismiss it. In the case of seeing blood when you go to the loo, Bhogal adds, \u201ceven a small amount of blood in your stool<\/a> should always be checked.\u201d<\/p>\n Digestive changes that don\u2019t settle deserve professional advice.<\/p>\n (Getty Images)6. Persistent fever<\/p>\n A fever that lasts longer than a few days \u2013 or keeps returning \u2013 may not be down to a passing bug.<\/p>\n \u201cYour body raises its temperature to fight infection,\u201d Bhogal explains, but persistent fever can signal infections or conditions that need treatment. This is also the case with flu because symptoms usually follow a pattern of improvement \u2014 so a fever that worsens or doesn\u2019t settle can suggest the infection isn\u2019t resolving properly.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe5 When to get it checked:<\/p>\n![\"Close-up,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/405bf21965682445ac4ec6c64c29fb51.jpeg\"\/)
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