I'm 20 and have been relatively healthy most of my life, save for having fairly high blood pressure since I was 14. I don't remember what the numbers were back then but for the past two years the systolic has averaged around 130-140 with the diastolic between 60 and 70. Awhile ago a pharmacist relative told me that the difference between the numbers--the pulse pressure--was too large. I forgot about it then but in the past two months I have noticed increased discomfort of the chest that sometimes radiates down my left arm and into my back behind the shoulder blade. I've had chest pain before but it was sporadic and I easily forgot about it. But it seems to be worse now.

Now that I've become concerned, I've done some research and found that high pulse pressure can be a symptom of an aortic valve leak and hypertrophy of the left ventricle. I realized I had other symptoms then too, such as slight, uncontrollable nodding of the head, a visible pulse in the fingernails, and dilation and constriction of the pupils in time with my hearbeat. I've realized too that my whole body shakes slightly but visibly with every beat--I can see my shirt shake in time with it!

I know I need to see a doctor and I will, but in the meantime not knowing what to make of anything is bothersome. I'd like to know if it's possible to have symptoms without the problem, or perhaps how likely it is that I have a condition? Perhaps even what is the outlook if I do? I just don't know enough, so I'd like to hear what you have to say.