Uncontrolled high blood pressure can kill you, the American Heart Association (AHA) points out. It generally has no symptoms except when the consequences of the damage show up. People need to know their blood pressure count to take steps toward lowering levels if necessary. Blood pressure can be checked at a doctor's office, medical clinic or at health fairs and exhibits. High blood pressure is also known as hypertension.
Heart Disease
Damage to the coronary arteries from high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which can cause fatty deposits in the arteries. These deposits may block blood flow to the heart, the AHA says.
Stroke
High blood pressure damages the arteries and may cause them to burst or interfere with blood flow throughout the body, including the brain. This puts a person at higher risk for stroke, a blockage of blood vessels in the brain that can cause loss of consciousness and speech and a partial loss of movement. High blood pressure can weaken the vessels, which can rob the brain of oxygen and nutrients, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Angina
Angina is chest pain that occurs because the heart is not getting enough blood, the Mayo Clinic explains. This can happen when the heart's arteries are narrowed or blocked. High blood pressure can contribute to the problem by damaging the arteries. Angina puts people at risk for heart attack. The condition is treated with medication.
Vision Loss
High blood pressure can constrict blood vessels in the eyes and optic nerve causing severe problems with vision. If left untreated, the condition can get worse. Managing high blood pressure is the only defense against hypertensive retinopathy, a disease of the retina that can cause permanent vision loss.
Kidney Damage
High blood pressure can damage arteries around the kidneys if not treated. As with other parts of the body, arteries to the kidneys can be narrowed or hardened from hypertension, which causes blocked blood flow. According to the Mayo Clinic, this can result in kidney failure, kidney scarring and kidney or renal aneurysm, a bulge in the artery that can rupture and cause life-threatening internal bleeding.
Aneurysm
When high blood pressure weakens arteries, the pressure from blood flow can cause a section of the artery wall to enlarge and bulge, which is an aneurysm. The bulge can burst and cause internal bleeding that may be fatal. Most aneurysms occur in the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the other areas of the body, but an aneurysm can happen in other arteries, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Memory Loss
Memory difficulties are more common in people who have high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. They may have problems with memory or understanding concepts. High blood pressure can increase the risk of dementia because of the interrupted blood flow to the brain. Dementia affects a person's ability to think, remember, reason, speak and see. Mild cognitive impairment, which occurs with aging or just before symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, may be a consequence of high blood pressure. It causes language, attention, critical thinking, reaction time and memory problems.
Erectile Dysfunction
High blood pressure can interfere with blood flow in the arteries and veins to the penis. This can cause erection problems. Adequate blood flow is necessary to achieve and sustain an erection, according to the AHA.
