High blood pressure, a medical condition known as hypertension, is any pressure that exceeds 140 (systolic pressure) over 90 (diastolic pressure) mmHg (millimeters of mercury, the standard measure of blood pressure). High blood pressure, which affects approximately 1 in 3 adults according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is often called the silent killer because it may not produce any symptoms before causing life-threatening damage in the body.
Heart Disease
The CDC reports that heart disease, a general term to describe a variety of diseases affecting the heart including coronary artery disease and arrhythmias, is the leading cause of death in the United States. High blood pressure is a contributing factor to developing coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease occurs when there is a build-up of fat and mineral (a substance called plaque), on the surface of the arteries. High blood pressure damages the walls of the arteries causing cells, including platelets (type of blood cell), fats, cholesterol and calcium to aggregate at the area of damage. As the plaque builds up, the arteries become narrower, restricting the flow of blood and resulting in a decreased amount of oxygen reaching the heart and other organs.
Kidney Disease
High blood pressure may be caused by excess fluid in the body, which means there is more fluid in the blood vessels that must be pumped. This makes the heart work harder to pump the blood throughout the body. Over time, the increase in pressure on the artery walls can damage the blood vessels. When the blood vessels within the kidneys become damaged it can interfere with the kidneys' ability to remove waste from the body. High blood pressure is the leading cause of end stage renal disease, or kidney failure, according to the National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Stroke
Stroke, the third leading cause of death among Americans according to the National Stroke Association, occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or blood vessel and interferes with the flow of blood to the brain. The plaque that builds up in blood vessels as a result of chronic hypertension can break away from the wall of the vessel and cause a blockage that can result in a stroke.
Retinopathy
Chronic hypertension can damage the blood vessels to the retina, the area in the back of the eye that focuses images. Symptoms of this condition, known as hypertensive retinopathy, include headaches and vision impairment. If left untreated, the high blood pressure can cause bleeding in the back of the eye that can lead to blindness.
