What Are Implications of High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is called the "silent killer" because it can go undetected for years. The implication of having high blood pressure is very serious because it damages important organs of your body before the condition manifests any symptoms.

Definition

• The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines blood pressure levels as follows:
  -Normal blood pressure is 115/75 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic).
  -Prehypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 80 to 89 mm Hg.
  -Stage 1 hypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 140 to 159 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 90 to 99 mm Hg.
  -Stage 2 hypertension is a systolic pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher.

Arteries

• High blood pressure damages arterial walls, causing them to thicken (arteriosclerosis). When blood vessel linings become damaged, fatty deposits stick to them, clogging blood flow (atherosclerosis). The force of blood pressure over time may lead to an aneurysm, a ballooning of the arterial walls, which may rupture.

Heart

• High blood pressure on the arteries directly damages your heart. This leads to heart disease, heart enlargement and heart failure due to the increased exertion required.

Brain

• Chronic high blood pressure causes stroke, dementia and cognitive impairment. The pressure can damage or rupture blood vessels and cause blockages in the brain as it does in arteries.

Kidneys

• Again, the pressure damages the tiny blood vessels of the inner kidney, resulting in the kidneys' failure to process waste from blood.