Patient's question:
My husband has been suffering from high blood pressure for 5 years. Recently, he has been feeling uncomfortable while walking and feels like he can no longer walk properly. Even a short step makes him extremely tired. Does high blood pressure cause difficulty in walking? I want to understand this better and seek clarification from a doctor. Currently, his blood pressure is still relatively stable.Doctor's answer:
High blood pressure for 5 years is quite a long time. If his blood pressure is not well-controlled on a daily basis, he may now have hypertensive heart disease, so he will feel exhausted after walking. He needs to have a detailed echocardiogram of the heart. If he has dizziness, he may have a small blockage in his head, which may cause leg weakness again. He needs to go to the hospital for a detailed head CT scan to confirm. High blood pressure is a chronic disease and requires long-term medication to keep blood pressure within the normal range.