If you have high blood pressure it means that your heart is having to work harder than it should to do its job of pumping blood and oxygen through your body. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious disease that can cause many complications if left untreated. In severe cases, it can lead to heart attack, stroke and failure of organs including your kidneys. Make sure you get your blood pressure checked often, and be on the lookout for signs of kidney disease that may be caused by high blood pressure.
Vessels
Prolonged or severe high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels that supply the kidneys with blood, oxygen and nutrients. As the blood supply to the kidneys is reduced, your kidneys are no longer be able to properly filter waste products and excess fluid. When the kidneys can not filter properly, your blood pressure can rise more and do even more damage.
One of the main functions of the kidney is to control blood pressure through the production of an enzyme called renin, according to the American Kidney Fund. Kidney damage can affect the production of renin, thereby causing blood pressure to rise, causing further kidney damage.
Kidney Disease
As the kidneys fail to filter excess fluid, your heart must work harder to pump the extra fluid around your body. In turn, your kidneys must work harder to process the extra fluid. This places an excessive amount of stress on the kidneys, causing chronic kidney disease. If you already had kidney disease before developing high blood pressure, your kidneys will fail at a faster rate. The American Association of Kidney Patients says that the progression of kidney disease can be slowed through proper treatment of hypertension.
Protein Leakage
As your kidneys begin to have problems filtering properly, protein can leak into your urine. You might have a general feeling of malaise if this happens. Your physician can perform a simple test to detect protein in your urine. If caught early, steps can be taken to minimize the damage.
Kidney Failure
As your blood pressure rises and your kidneys are forced to work harder, they could eventually fail. At this point, you may need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.
