If you’ve searched online for high blood pressure symptoms — or you’ve asked Dr. Google to tell you whether or not your headache could be an early warning sign of hypertension — you probably haven’t found the answers you’re probably looking for.

The problem with high blood pressure is that most people don’t know they have it until one of two things happen: they go to see their doctor and their doctor suspects they might have it, or they have a heart attack or similar event that probably resulted from undiagnosed hypertension.

Unfortunately, the only way to diagnose high blood pressure — or even suspect you might have it — is through a visit with your health care provider. High blood pressure can be diagnosed and treated before it causes major health problems. But that does not mean you should wait to get checked out until something goes seriously wrong.