Consequences of High Blood Pressure

Consequences of High Blood Pressure

Among people who have high blood pressure, 30% do not even know about it. And that is a bad news. Because untreated hypertension causes thousands of death each year.

As many as 65 million Americans over the age of six have high blood pressure also know as hypertension. So what are the consequences of this epidemic? Strokes which affect the arteries leading to the brain is one of hypertension most serious consequences. Strokes are cause by a clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain or by in vessels rupturing with the same result. Al Capone is best known for his life of crime in Prohibition America where he was heralded as the boss of the criminal organization in Chicago. Well many people do not know about Capone however, is that, he suffered the stroke while in prison which lead to his demise at the age of 48.

People with hypertension are eight times more likely to suffer from strokes like Capone’s and people with normal blood pressure. In fact high blood pressure is identified as the number one risk factor of strokes. People with hypertension are also twice as likely to suffer from heart attacks. A heart attack occurs when the flow of oxygen carrying blood to the heart is block. Like strokes, heart attacks can be resulted in death. High blood pressure is also the number one risk factor for developing congestive heart failure. This year is condition occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to supplies the bodies needs. In addition, people with untreated hypertension is often suffers kidney damage or even kidney failure. The kidneys act this filters to rid the body of waste. Over time high blood pressure can narrow and thickened the blood vessels on the kidneys making it difficult for them to do their job and resulting in waste build up in the blood.

High blood pressure can also affect the arteries and smaller and smaller arterioles to throughout the body. As we age our arteries hardened and become less elastic. Well, this occurs gradually in all people those with hypertension experience the speeding up with the process causing the heart and kidneys to work harder. Even the eyes are not immune to the effects of the hypertension. Long term high blood pressure can eventually cause vessels in the eyes to burst or bleed. As a result vision can become blurred or otherwise impaired. In some cases total blindness can occur. These consequences are frightening but the good news is that they are avoidable. Clinical trials have found that lowering blood pressure to acceptable levels can reduce the risk of stroke by 35%.

The likelihood of heart attack by 25% and the occurrence of heart failure by 50%. If you have hypertension or you think you maybe a candidate for developing the condition please talk to your doctor about treatment option.

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