The Perils of Elevated Blood Pressure

Celebrity Angels discusses the dangers of high blood pressure, what parts of the body are most at risk and how to treat it.

About one in three persons have hypertension, or high blood pressure as it is more popularly called, according to the 2006 Health Survey for England. Blood pushes against the sidewalls of blood vessels as it is pumped through them; if this pressure is too high, it can place additional strain on your heart and arteries, which can result in a number of dangerous health issues. Since many people don’t recognise symptoms until after the body has suffered harm, high blood pressure has been dubbed a silent killer.

Your blood pressure is recorded by two distinct values. The force with which your heart pumps blood throughout your body is shown by the higher number, or systolic pressure, while the resistance to blood flow in your arteries is indicated by the lower number, or diastolic pressure. A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is generally regarded as high. Hypertension is one of the most common risks associated with high blood pressure; it can lead to a variety of conditions that, if ignored, can significantly impair your quality of life and, in certain cases, even be lethal.

Arteries

Hypertension can damage the inner lining of arteries, making it easier for fats to collect in them. Eventually they can become more narrow and less elastic, which limits blood flow throughout the body. The pressure of blood moving through a weakened artery can also cause it to form a bulge—or an aneurysm—that can rupture and lead to internal bleeding.

The heart 

One of the most significant risks of high blood pressure is that it can constrict the arteries, which prevents blood from flowing freely to the heart. This can result in irregular heartbeats, chest aches, or even a heart attack. In addition to making the heart work harder, hypertension can increase the risk of heart attack or heart failure by thickening and stiffening the left side of the heart. The latter may also happen as a result of the heart’s strain weakening and exhausting the muscles.

The brain

The narrowing or damage of the blood vessels in the brain may cause a temporary disruption of blood supply that can lead to a transient ischemic attack—or a mini stroke, as it’s more commonly known. A full-blown stroke—where part of your brain is deprived of oxygen, causing damage to your brain cells—can occur when untreated hypertension weakens your brain’s blood vessels, leading them to narrow, rupture or leak.

One of the dangers of high blood pressure is the lack of blood flow to the brain, which can also lead to cognitive impairment of varying degrees of severity. Vascular dementia, which profoundly affects your ability to think as well as your speech, memory, vision and movement, can develop when the arteries that supply the brain are narrowed or blocked.

The kidneys

Kidney failure can occur when high blood pressure damages the arteries leading to your kidneys and the tiny vessels—called glomeruli—found within them. The kidneys can’t filter waste from blood, meaning you may require dialysis or even a kidney transplant. Aneurysms can also happen in kidneys, leading to internal bleeding.

See also: The Warning Signs of a Serious Illness

The eyes

High blood pressure can damage the delicate blood vessels around your eyes, particularly the retina, causing retinopathy. This can lead to bleeding in the eye, blurred vision and even blindness. Hypertension can cause blood vessels to leak, letting fluid build up under the retina and impairing vision. Blocked blood flow can also damage the optic nerve and kill nerve cells, resulting in bleeding in your eye or loss of vision.

Reducing your blood pressure by even a small amount can help lower your risk of developing health complications. Many causes of high blood pressure are linked to lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption, and a poor diet. Being overweight or obese can also increase your likelihood of developing this condition. Making changes to your lifestyle and diet can reduce your susceptibility to the dangers of high blood pressure and lower your chances of developing it altogether. These changes include losing weight, eating more fruit and vegetables, cutting down on salt and alcohol, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and aiming for at least six hours of sleep per night. Your doctor may also prescribe certain medicines to prevent your blood pressure from rising too high—whether or not you receive these will depend on your age and the severity of your condition.

If you liked this article on the dangers of high blood pressure, click here to read more on Celebrity Angels about the top tips for a longer and healthier life for over 50’s.