Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can lead to several health problems that affect the heart, kidneys and other parts of the body. Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts on the walls of blood vessels when it moves through them. When hypertension is left untreated or uncontrolled, the arteries and other organs in the body can get damaged. Death can result.
Stroke
A stroke is one consequence of hypertension. It occurs when a blood vessel carrying blood to part of the brain ruptures or becomes blocked. In high blood pressure, blood vessels are subjected to a lot of force because blood pushes against their walls as it travels through them. This force can create weak spots in the walls of blood vessels that can later rupture. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery ruptures in or near the brain. Hypertension can cause this type of stroke.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a total inability to achieve an erection, an inconsistent ability to have one or the ability to maintain only brief erections. Hypertension can cause erectile dysfunction because a sufficient blood supply to the male genitalia is necessary to have and maintain an erection. Hypertension damages and narrows blood vessels throughout the body. When blood vessels that carry blood to the genitals are narrow, blood supply to those areas are reduced.
Vision Loss
Hypertensive retinopathy is damage that occurs in the retina of the eye due to hypertension. The retina is located at the back of the inner eye and is connected to the brain via the optic nerve. Its function is to enable individuals to see images in their environment. Hypertension can cause a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply the retina with blood, thereby reducing it's blood supply. It can also create tears in these blood vessels, so blood can leak into the eyes. Damage to the blood vessels that supply blood to the retina may also lead to swelling of the optic nerve, impaired vision or blindness.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis affects blood vessels in the body. Hypertension can cause atherosclerosis, a condition that involves hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup on their walls. Atherosclerosis occurs in hypertensive patients when the arteries develop tears that later become scars. The scars then trap fat, cholesterol and other substances in the body which subsequently turn into plaque, a hard material that can stick on the walls of the arteries. Plaque accumulation can lead to reduced blood supply to various organs in the body, including the heart, kidneys, brain and legs. Consequences of reduced blood flow include heart attacks, kidney damage and stroke.
References
- American Heart Association: Discover Why HBP matters
- Mayo Clinic: High blood pressure dangers: Hypertension's effects on your body
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: What is High Blood Pressure
- "Advanced Therapy In Hypertension And Vascular Disease"; Emile R. Mohler and Raymond R. Townsend; 2006
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Erectile Dysfunction
