The American Heart Association (AHA) defines blood pressure as the amount of force pushing outward on your arterial walls. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the result of too much force being exerted each time the heart beats. The problem with too much force, according to the AHA, is that the extra pressure causes the arteries to stretch to an unhealthy limit that results in several potentially dangerous problems. High blood pressure can silently cause damage years before any symptoms develop.
Significance
According to the Mayo Clinic, the arteries function as strong, flexible vessels that help supply the body with proper nutrients and oxygen. Hypertension can cause arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries), atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque) and aneurysm (weakening and eventual rupture of an artery wall). As the arterial walls harden and plaque begins to build up, oxygen flow is decreased to other areas of the body, such as the heart, kidneys, brain and extremities.
Heart Damage
Coronary artery disease (disease of the heart's arteries), an enlargement of the heart's left side and heart failure are also dangerous results of high blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic states that over time, the narrowed arteries can cause angina (chest pain), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and heart attack. The extra force the heart uses to circulate blood through the body will cause the left side of the heart to grow bigger and in the process less flexible, and over time, the heart will fail.
Brain Damage
Oxygen is needed for all body tissue to survive. The Mayo Clinic notes that the decreased oxygen flow due to damage in the arteries and heart will cause transient ischemic attacks (mini strokes); stroke; dementia; and mild cognitive impairment, such as difficulty with memory, speaking, thinking, reading and writing.
Damage to Kidneys
The kidneys, as described by the Mayo Clinic, clean fluids and waste products out of the blood. Healthy arteries are required to accomplish this process. Damaged blood vessels leading to the kidneys will result in kidney failure in which the kidneys no longer clean the blood, kidney scarring (ineffective cleaning) and kidney artery aneurysm (rupture of an artery). The National Kidney Foundation states that kidney failure requires dialysis to clean the blood, and kidney aneurysm is life-threatening.
Damage to Eyes
The blood vessels to the eyes are small and delicate. Any disruption in blood flow to the eye can lead to retinopathy (damaged eye blood vessels), choroidopathy (fluid under the retina) and nerve damage. All of these conditions can lead to blindness, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
The Mayo Clinic suggests that high blood pressure can also lead to sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis and obstructive sleep apnea.
