Approximately 50 million people in the United States have hypertension. In the May 2007 issue of "Circulation: Journal for the American Heart Association," the AHA Council on High Blood Pressure Research released a scientific statement linking hypertension to heart disease, stroke and renal disease.The Centers for Disease Control calls hypertension the silent killer because the effects of this disease often go unnoticed until serious problems develop.
Cardiovascular Effects
Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D, discuss the effects of hypertension on the cardiovascular system in the 2006 edition of "Medical-Surgical Nursing - Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care." Hypertension is related to 75 percent of all heart failure cases. Untreated hypertension increases the amount of pressure the heart must pump against to pump blood throughout the body. This constant increased workload on the heart leads to hypertrophy of the left ventricle. This means the left heart chamber gets thicker and harder, losing elasticity and strength. Eventually, the heart becomes an inefficient pump and fails.
Another serious complication of untreated hypertension is aortic dissection. The aorta is the main artery that brings oxygen-rich blood to the entire body. Rose M. Coughlin, MSN RN, stated in the April 2008 issue of the "American Nurse Today" journal, that two-thirds of patients who experience an aortic dissection have high blood pressure. Constant uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause tears and swelling in the aorta, weakening the integrity of the great vessel. Eventually, the aortic vessel will rupture or dissect.
People with untreated hypertension have a greater risk for developing a heart attack. The risk increases with age. When the heart must pump blood against high pressures, a decreased amount of blood reaches the heart muscle. This decrease in coronary blood flow can lead to heart attack.
Renal Effects
Hypertension is the second leading cause of renal failure. Continued untreated hypertension leads to decreased blood flow to the kidneys. The kidneys are sensitive to blood flow changes, and over time, loss of kidney function will result.
Neurologic Effects
Hypertension increases a person's risk of stroke. In the brain, the increased artery pressure may lead to vessel rupture, causing hemorrhagic stroke. The brain is sensitive to pressure and has a specialized system to control intracranial pressure. When systemic blood pressure rises, it increases pressure in the cranial cavity, putting pressure on the brain. The brain responds by constricting the cerebral arteries, which decreases blood flow to the brain. Unfortunately, this effort to relieve pressure may increase the risk of ischemic stroke.
References
- American Heart Association: Circulation: Journal for the American Heart Association
- Centers for disease Control: Healthy People 2010: Objectives for Improving Health
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing - Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius MS RN, & M. Linda Workman Ph.D; 2006
