High Blood Pressure and Health Threats from High Blood Pressure

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause serious health issues, including:

Heart Attack and Heart Disease: Hypertension can damage arteries, leading to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, which may result in a heart attack.
Stroke: Elevated blood pressure can cause blood vessels in the brain to burst or become blocked, leading to a stroke.
Heart Failure: The increased workload from high blood pressure can cause the heart to enlarge and fail to supply blood efficiently.
Kidney Disease or Failure: Hypertension can damage the arteries around the kidneys, affecting their ability to filter blood properly.
Vision Loss: High blood pressure can strain or damage blood vessels in the eyes, leading to vision problems.
Sexual Dysfunction: Hypertension can lead to erectile dysfunction in men and may cause lower libido in women.
Peripheral Artery Disease: Narrowed arteries due to high blood pressure can reduce blood flow to the limbs, causing pain or mobility issues.
Vascular Dementia: Reduced or blocked blood flow to the brain caused by hypertension can lead to memory and cognitive problems.

Beyond the previously mentioned risks, uncontrolled hypertension can lead to:

Aneurysms: Increased blood pressure can cause blood vessels to weaken and bulge, forming aneurysms. If an aneurysm ruptures, it can result in life-threatening internal bleeding.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Hypertension can cause narrowing of the arteries in the legs, arms, stomach, and head, leading to pain and fatigue.
Metabolic Syndrome: This cluster of disorders includes increased waist circumference, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high insulin levels. Together, these conditions increase the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Cognitive Decline and Dementia: Hypertension, especially in midlife, is linked to poorer cognitive function and an increased risk of dementia later in life.