Hypertension, or high blood pressure, increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. The good news is that it can be treated and managed with exercise, diet and medication. If left untreated, however, it can be fatal. Your best defense is to get your blood pressure checked regularly and then take steps to control it if it's high. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of untreated high blood pressure will alert you as to when you need to seek treatment to avoid complications.
Lack of Symptoms
High blood pressure and heart disease are often called "silent killers" because they can occur without any symptoms. According to the National Institutes of Health, "Millions of people have high blood pressure and many do not even know they have this serious condition." This is why it is so important to have your blood pressure checked. In many cases it may be the only way you will know if your pressure is high.
General Symptoms
In some cases, untreated high blood pressure can cause a headache. If you have a severe headache, seek treatment right away as it may signal dangerously high blood pressure. You may also experience fatigue and feel anxious. In severe cases, hypertension can cause damage to the blood vessels that supply the eyes, which can lead to permanent vision problems. If the blood vessels rupture due to increased pressure, you can become blind.
Additional Symptoms
Hypertension left untreated can cause confusion, problems with memory, vomiting, upset stomach, sweating, pale skin and angina (chest pain). Your skin can also become quite red. It can also lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs and cause breathing problems.
Vascular Complications
According to the American Heart Association, "Over time, if the force of the blood flow is often high, the tissue that makes up the walls of arteries gets stretched beyond its healthy limit." This means that your blood vessels can become weak, develop scar tissue and aneurysms, and contribute to the buildup of plaque on the artery walls. All of these can create symptoms of heart disease.
Severe Symptoms
The National Institute of Health states that if left untreated, hypertension can lead to kidney failure. Kidney failure occurs because hypertension can thicken the blood vessels that supply the kidneys, which interferes with the kidney's ability to get rid of wastes.
