What Are Complications of High Blood Presure?

High blood pressure affects about 1 in 3 adults in the United States according to the National Institute of Health. Typically, high blood pressure, or hypertension, has no symptoms. For this reason, it is sometimes called the "silent killer." Complications of high blood pressure can affect all body systems, even leading to life threatening conditions.

What is Blood Pressure

• Blood pressure is the force of blood pumping through your arteries. If your heart has to work harder than it should, your blood pressure will be elevated.

Arterial Damage

• Hypertension can cause scarring and hardening of the arteries and the small vessels that branch from the arteries. This may cause bulges or aneurysms to form in the arteries. These aneurysms can rupture, causing a severe bleed and even death.

Effect on the Eyes

• Hypertension can cause vision changes or even blindness by causing the blood vessels in the eyes to rupture.

Kidney Complications

• High blood pressure may cause kidney failure because it can cause a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply the kidneys.

Life Threatening Issues

• High blood pressure may damage the arteries of the body enough to cause a stroke or heart attack.

Treatment

• Treatment for high blood pressure is absolutely necessary. You should not allow hypertension to go untreated. See your physician to have your blood pressure checked frequently.