High blood pressure is sometimes called the "silent killer" because it usually has no symptoms. The American Heart Association states that 1 in 3 Americans has high blood pressure, and many are unaware they have it. In 2006, an estimated 56,561 deaths were attributed to high blood pressure. Left untreated, high blood pressure slowly creates diseased and damaged organs.
Heart Disease
Normal blood pressure is 120/90 mm Hg. A resting and sustained blood pressure reading of 140 or higher on the top, or 90 or higher on the bottom, is high blood pressure. When prolonged, high blood pressure puts a strain on the heart muscle, eventually leading to an enlargement and stiffening of the heart's left ventricle. The walls of the heart become thicker, and it must work harder to pump blood. These changes in the structure of the heart can cause rhythm problems and heart failure.
Artery Disease
Long-standing high blood pressure also causes blood vessel walls to thicken, resulting in hardening of the arteries, which worsens high blood pressure.
Stroke
A stroke happens when an artery to the brain is blocked, or when it ruptures. This causes the affected part of the brain to die due to a lack of oxygen. High blood pressure increases the risk of a rupturing vessel. In the United States, stroke is the third leading cause of death, with more than 700,000 strokes occurring every year, reports the National Institutes of Health.
Kidney Disease
High blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease and failure, says the National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse. High blood pressure causes damage to blood vessels in all parts of the body, including the kidneys. Poorly functioning kidneys can't do a good job of removing waste from the system, or prevent loss of protein in the urine. When wastes are not efficiently removed, and protein is lost, water retention results. This build-up of fluid in the tissues worsens high blood pressure.
Eye Damage
Over time, high blood pressure can damage the vessels in the eyes, causing them to break and bleed. This can result in poor vision or even blindness.
Dementia
Long-standing high blood pressure is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. A study in the February, 2010 issue of the "Archives of Neurology," concluded that high blood pressure is a factor in the progression of cognitive impairment to dementia.
