High blood pressure.  It is relatively normal to have high blood pressure from time to time.  It is when there is long-term force of high blood pressure against your artery walls that you need to be concerned.  Long-term high pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels and lead to heart attack, heart disease and stroke.  Symptoms of hypertension include headaches, shortness of breath and/or nosebleeds.  Unfortunately by the time these symptoms surface the hypertension may have reached a severe or life-threatening stage.  Fortunately, it is easily detected and if found quickly there are many medical treatments.