Yes, high blood pressure can cause nausea, but usually only when it reaches dangerously high levels. Most people with high blood pressure feel no symptoms at all. That is why doctors call it the "silent killer." But when blood pressure spikes to 180/120 mmHg or higher, nausea and vomiting can show up as warning signs of a medical emergency called a hypertensive crisis.

Here is the tricky part. About 48% of American adults have high blood pressure, according to the CDC. And many of them do not even know it. So if you are feeling nauseous and wondering whether your blood pressure might be the cause, you are asking the right question.

At South Florida Med Group in Miami Lakes, we help patients from Hialeah, Doral, Miami Gardens, and surrounding communities manage high blood pressure and its symptoms through primary care and whole-person wellness. This article will explain when and why high blood pressure causes nausea, what other symptoms to watch for, and when you should seek help right away.

How High Blood Pressure Leads to Nausea

To understand why high blood pressure can make you feel sick to your stomach, it helps to know what is happening inside your body.

Blood pressure measures the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. When that pressure stays too high for too long, it damages blood vessels throughout your body, including the ones in your brain, heart, and kidneys.

What Happens During a Blood Pressure Spike

When blood pressure shoots up suddenly, your body goes into a kind of alarm mode. The sharp increase in pressure affects blood flow to the brain. This change in blood flow can trigger nausea, dizziness, and even vomiting.

Think of it like a garden hose. If you turn the water pressure up too high, the hose starts shaking and straining. Your blood vessels react the same way. The extra force can irritate nerves connected to the stomach and brain, leading to that queasy, sick feeling.

Why Most People With High Blood Pressure Do Not Feel Nauseous

Here is the thing. Regular, everyday high blood pressure usually causes no symptoms. You could walk around with a reading of 150/95 and feel perfectly fine. The damage happens quietly over months and years.

Nausea typically only shows up when blood pressure reaches severe levels, usually 180/120 mmHg or higher. At that point, the pressure is high enough to affect organs like the brain and kidneys, and your body starts sending distress signals. Nausea is one of those signals.

According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms, and measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know if you have it. That is why regular checkups matter so much.

What Is a Hypertensive Crisis?

A hypertensive crisis is a sudden, severe spike in blood pressure. It is a medical emergency. There are two types, and both can cause nausea.

Hypertensive Urgency

This is when your blood pressure hits 180/120 mmHg or higher, but there is no sign of organ damage yet. You may feel nausea, a bad headache, or anxiety. This situation needs medical attention quickly, but it is not always an immediate trip to the emergency room. Your doctor may adjust your medications and monitor you closely.

Hypertensive Emergency

This is more serious. Your blood pressure is 180/120 mmHg or higher and your organs are being damaged. The brain, heart, kidneys, or eyes may all be affected. Symptoms include severe nausea or vomiting, chest pain, confusion, blurred vision, and trouble breathing. This requires emergency care right away.

A study published in the medical journal Materia Socio Medica found that among patients experiencing a hypertensive crisis, about 41% had nausea and vomiting as a symptom. It was one of the most common complaints alongside headache, chest pain, and dizziness.

Symptoms That May Appear Alongside Nausea

If your nausea is caused by dangerously high blood pressure, you will likely notice other symptoms too. These can include:

Severe headache, especially at the back of the head
Blurred vision or vision changes
Chest pain or tightness
Shortness of breath
Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
Nosebleeds
Vomiting

If you have nausea along with any of these symptoms, check your blood pressure if you can. A reading over 180/120 mmHg with symptoms means you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Other Reasons High Blood Pressure and Nausea Overlap

High blood pressure itself is not the only reason you might feel nauseous. Several related factors can bring on that queasy feeling too.

Blood Pressure Medications

This surprises many people. The very medicines you take to control high blood pressure can sometimes cause nausea as a side effect. Common types of blood pressure drugs that may cause stomach upset include ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers (especially verapamil), ARBs, and beta blockers.

If you started a new blood pressure medication and began feeling nauseous shortly after, that could be the reason. Do not stop taking your medication on your own. Talk to your provider about adjusting the dose or switching to a different drug.

At South Florida Med Group, medication management is a key part of the care we provide. We work with patients to find the right medication at the right dose with the fewest side effects.

Anxiety and Stress

Here is a connection that many people miss. Anxiety can cause both a temporary spike in blood pressure and nausea at the same time. When you feel anxious, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones speed up your heart rate and narrow your blood vessels, which raises blood pressure. They also affect your stomach and digestive system, which is why anxiety often causes nausea, stomach cramps, or that "butterflies in your stomach" feeling.

In Florida, nearly 2.9 million adults live with a mental health condition, and many go untreated. If anxiety is making you feel sick and driving up your blood pressure, getting help for both issues matters. South Florida Med Group offers integrated care for both physical and mental health, including support for anxiety treatment right here in Miami Lakes.

Kidney Problems From Long Term High Blood Pressure

Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure damages the small blood vessels in your kidneys. When your kidneys cannot filter waste properly, toxins build up in your blood. This buildup can make you feel nauseous, tired, and generally unwell. Kidney damage from high blood pressure often develops slowly without obvious signs until the damage is significant.

Dehydration

Dehydration and high blood pressure share some of the same symptoms, including nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. Living in South Florida, where the heat and humidity can be intense, dehydration is a real concern. Not drinking enough water can also affect your blood pressure readings and make you feel worse overall.

Blood Pressure Numbers You Should Know

Understanding your blood pressure numbers helps you know when to worry and when to relax. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers: systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number).

Blood Pressure Category	Systolic (Top Number)	Diastolic (Bottom Number)
Normal	Below 120	Below 80
Elevated	120 to 129	Below 80
High Blood Pressure Stage 1	130 to 139	80 to 89
High Blood Pressure Stage 2	140 or higher	90 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis (Seek Emergency Care)	Higher than 180	Higher than 120

If your reading falls in the hypertensive crisis range and you are feeling nauseous, dizzy, or have chest pain, do not wait. Get medical help immediately.

When to See a Doctor About Nausea and High Blood Pressure

Not every bout of nausea means your blood pressure is through the roof. Nausea has dozens of causes, from something you ate to a stomach bug to motion sickness. But there are times when nausea combined with other signs should send you straight to a doctor.

Go to the Emergency Room If

You have a blood pressure reading above 180/120 mmHg with nausea, vomiting, chest pain, severe headache, confusion, vision changes, or shortness of breath. This could be a hypertensive crisis and requires immediate medical attention.

See Your Primary Care Doctor If

You have been feeling nauseous on and off and your blood pressure has been running higher than normal. You started a new blood pressure medication and nausea began soon after. Your nausea comes with headaches, dizziness, or fatigue that will not go away. You have not had your blood pressure checked in over a year.

Regular visits to your primary care provider can catch high blood pressure before it becomes a crisis. Stephanie Cabrera, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, a double board-certified nurse practitioner and Miami native with over 17 years of healthcare experience, leads the team at South Florida Med Group with a whole-person approach to care. She works with patients to monitor blood pressure, adjust medications, and address the root causes of symptoms like nausea.

How to Lower Your Blood Pressure and Reduce Nausea

If your nausea is linked to high blood pressure, bringing those numbers down is the best long-term fix. Here are steps that can help.

Lifestyle Changes That Work

Small daily habits can make a big difference in your blood pressure over time.

Move your body. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. Walking, swimming, or even dancing counts. Exercise helps your heart pump more efficiently, which lowers the pressure on your arteries.

Cut back on salt. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, and ideally closer to 1,500 milligrams for most adults. Too much salt causes your body to hold extra water, which raises blood pressure.

Eat more fruits and vegetables. The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) has been proven to lower blood pressure. It focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while cutting back on saturated fat and sodium.

Manage stress. Chronic stress keeps your blood pressure elevated. Deep breathing, meditation, regular exercise, and spending time with people you love can all help bring stress levels down.

Limit alcohol. Drinking too much raises blood pressure over time. If you drink, keep it moderate, no more than one drink a day for women and two for men.

Quit smoking. Every cigarette you smoke temporarily raises blood pressure and damages your blood vessels.

Medical Treatment Options

When lifestyle changes are not enough, medication is the next step. There are many types of blood pressure drugs available, and your provider can help find one that works for you without causing nausea or other bothersome side effects.

If you are already on medication and still dealing with nausea, your provider may adjust your dose, switch you to a different type of drug, or check for other causes. Never stop taking blood pressure medication on your own. Stopping suddenly can cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure.

For patients who are also dealing with stress, anxiety, or depression, treating those conditions can also help bring blood pressure down. Research shows that treating anxiety in patients with high blood pressure can improve blood pressure control. At South Florida Med Group, we treat both mind and body because they are deeply connected.

The Connection Between Mental Health and High Blood Pressure

This is a topic that deserves more attention than it usually gets. High blood pressure and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression often go hand in hand. And both can cause nausea.

When you are anxious, your body stays in a state of high alert. Your heart beats faster, your muscles tense up, and your stomach churns. Over time, this constant state of stress can contribute to chronic high blood pressure. And chronic high blood pressure can fuel more anxiety, especially if you are worried about your health.

It is a cycle that feeds itself. But the good news is that treating one condition often helps the other. Getting your anxiety under control can lower your blood pressure. And getting your blood pressure under control can ease some of the physical symptoms that make anxiety worse.

For residents of Miami Lakes, Hialeah, Doral, Aventura, Kendall, and Westchester, South Florida Med Group offers both psychiatric care and primary care under one roof. This makes it easier to address both sides of the equation without bouncing between different offices.

What to Do Right Now If You Feel Nauseous and Think Your Blood Pressure Is High

If you are reading this because you are feeling nauseous right now and worried about your blood pressure, here is a quick action plan.

Step 1: Sit down in a quiet place and try to relax. Take slow, deep breaths for a few minutes.

Step 2: If you have a home blood pressure monitor, check your numbers. Wait 5 minutes in a resting position before taking the reading.

Step 3: If your reading is under 180/120 and you have no other severe symptoms, contact your doctor to schedule an appointment. Write down your reading and how you are feeling.

Step 4: If your reading is 180/120 or higher and you have symptoms like chest pain, confusion, severe headache, vision problems, or vomiting, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away.

Step 5: If you do not have a blood pressure monitor at home and your nausea is accompanied by any of the serious symptoms listed above, do not wait. Seek emergency care.

Many pharmacies also offer free blood pressure checks. It is a simple, quick way to get peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can high blood pressure cause nausea every day?

Daily nausea is unlikely to be caused by high blood pressure alone unless your blood pressure is consistently very high. Ongoing nausea is more commonly linked to medication side effects, digestive issues, anxiety, or kidney problems. If you are feeling nauseous every day, see your doctor to find the cause. Your blood pressure should be checked as part of that evaluation.

What level of blood pressure causes nausea?

Nausea from high blood pressure usually happens when readings reach 180/120 mmHg or higher. This is the range known as a hypertensive crisis. At lower levels of high blood pressure (Stage 1 or Stage 2), nausea is not a typical symptom. If you have nausea with a severely elevated reading, seek medical care right away.

Can blood pressure medicine make you feel nauseous?

Yes, nausea is a known side effect of several types of blood pressure medications, including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers, and beta blockers. The nausea often improves as your body adjusts to the medication. If it does not improve after a few weeks, talk to your provider about switching to a different drug. Do not stop taking your medication without your doctor's guidance.

Can anxiety cause both high blood pressure and nausea at the same time?

Absolutely. Anxiety triggers your body's fight-or-flight response, which releases stress hormones. These hormones raise your blood pressure and affect your digestive system, which can cause nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. If you struggle with ongoing anxiety, getting mental health support can help improve both your blood pressure and your stomach symptoms.

Should I go to the ER for nausea and high blood pressure?

If your blood pressure is above 180/120 mmHg and you have nausea along with other symptoms like chest pain, severe headache, confusion, blurred vision, or difficulty breathing, go to the ER immediately. If your blood pressure is high but below 180/120 and you have mild nausea without other serious symptoms, contact your doctor for guidance rather than going to the emergency room.

Final Thoughts

High blood pressure can cause nausea, but it usually only happens when blood pressure reaches dangerously high levels. Because high blood pressure often has no symptoms, regular checkups and home monitoring are the best way to catch problems early, before they turn into a crisis.

If you are dealing with nausea and high blood pressure, do not ignore either one. Talk to your doctor about what is causing your symptoms and what you can do about it. Sometimes the solution is a medication adjustment. Sometimes it is treating stress and anxiety. And sometimes it is a combination of lifestyle changes and medical care that gets you feeling better.

South Florida Med Group serves patients across Miami Lakes, Hialeah, Doral, Miami Gardens, Aventura, North Miami, Miramar, Coral Gables, Kendall, and Westchester. Whether you need help managing high blood pressure, dealing with anxiety, or getting a comprehensive checkup, our team led by Stephanie Cabrera, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, is here to help.

Ready to take the next step? Call us at (786) 860-8844 or book an appointment online. We are open Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM at 16969 NW 67th Avenue, Suite 205, Miami Lakes, FL 33015.

Feel Better. Live Brighter.