Coronary Artery Disease
Commonly known as "hardening of the arteries," coronary heart disease develops when high blood pressure (hypertension) is untreated. According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, the raised pressure will cause the artery muscles to thicken, thus causing the arteries to narrow. Blood flow to and from the heart is restricted, raising the chances of a heart attack or stroke. Signs of artery disease include angina (chest pain), which occurs when the heart cannot get enough oxygen and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia). When the flow of blood is restricted, a clot may form, causing a stroke. If the flow of blood is completely blocked, the result is a heart attack.
Enlarged Heart
Since hypertension increases the amount of work the heart performs, the heart grows bigger. Experts from the Texas Heart Institute report that unlike other muscles, when the heart enlarges it does not perform as well, because the bigger it becomes the less blood is able to flow through it. As a result, the body becomes tired and weak, and is unable to perform physical activities and exercise. This is the beginning of heart failure, and if left untreated can result in heart failure, heart attack and sudden death.
Congestive Heart Failure
High blood pressure is the number one cause of congestive heart failure. If left untreated, hypertension will cause too much strain on the heart. The heart will work less efficiently as it becomes weaker, and it will begin to wear out. When the heart becomes too weak to continue to pump blood, it will fail, resulting in congestive heart failure. Heart failure can often be treated with medications and lifestyle changes, but cannot be reversed.
