Effects of High Blood Pressure on the Heart

High blood pressure is a serious condition that can seriously damage the heart muscle, especially chronic, severe high blood pressure cases. In these cases, the effects can be life-threatening.

• Heart

Coronary Artery Disease

• High blood pressure can increase the risk of coronary artery disease, or heart disease. Elevated blood pressure levels over time can cause small breaks and cracks to develop in the walls of the coronary arteries, which increase coronary artery disease risk.

Enlarged Heart

• Chronic (long-term) high blood pressure causes the heart muscle to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. This in turn causes the heart muscle, more specifically the left ventricle, to enlarge and weaken, thereby reducing the heart's pumping capabilities.

Heart Failure

• Severe, long-standing cases of high blood pressure can weaken and damage the heart to the extent that the heart loses its ability to pump and circulate blood throughout the body. This condition, known as heart failure, has serious implications on overall health and life expectancy.

Aortic Aneurysm

• Prolonged high blood pressure increases the risk of rupture of the blood vessels within the heart, especially the aorta. Weakened blood vessel walls are at increased risk of developing weak spots, or aneurysms, that can burst, an occurrence that is generally fatal.

Heart Muscle Scarring

• Although rare, scarring of the heart muscle can occur as the result of severe, chronic high blood pressure. This condition often occurs in conjunction with the development of heart failure and typically causes severe heart rhythm disturbances.