Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure is considered any blood pressure reading above this level.
Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure develops gradually over time and rarely causes symptoms, but when symptoms do occur, headaches, nosebleeds and shortness of breath are the most common. Anyone can develop high blood pressure, although certain factors can increase the risk. Obesity, lack of physical activity and high stress are some of the risk factors that contribute to the condition.
Heart diseases caused by high blood pressure
With high blood pressure, the pressure of blood against the artery walls is consistently high. This means the heart has to work significantly harder to pump blood. Over time, this increased blood pressure can damage the walls of arteries and blood vessels, preventing the necessary nutrients and oxygen from reaching cells and vital organs, including the heart.
High blood pressure can damage the heart in several ways and cause one or more serious heart conditions. Heart conditions associated with high blood pressure include:
1. Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is not a single problem but a collection of metabolic disorders, including high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats, high blood sugar, and abdominal obesity.
When high blood pressure is present as part of this syndrome, it increases the burden on the heart and arteries, thereby accelerating the process of atherosclerosis and impairing heart function. The heart gradually becomes overloaded by the constant pumping of blood through damaged or partially blocked blood vessels.
2. Heart attack
When high blood pressure is left uncontrolled, it damages the lining of the coronary arteries. This damage allows cholesterol plaque to form, gradually narrowing or blocking the artery.
If a blood clot forms at the site of the blockage, blood flow to the heart muscle is cut off, resulting in a heart attack or myocardial infarction. This is an emergency that can cause permanent damage to the heart or even be life-threatening.
3. Heart disease
The term “heart disease” generally encompasses a variety of conditions that affect heart function. Long-term high blood pressure can damage the heart from the inside, affecting its ability to contract or pump blood effectively. A heart that is constantly overworked will gradually lose its flexibility and ability to meet the body’s oxygen needs, increasing the risk of arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and a reduced quality of life.
4. Heart failure
Unlike a heart attack that occurs suddenly, heart failure is the cumulative effect of long-term high blood pressure. When having to work continuously under high pressure, the heart muscle thickens, stiffens and is no longer able to contract rhythmically.
This leads to blood stagnation in the heart and other organs such as the lungs and liver, causing shortness of breath, swelling of the legs and persistent fatigue. Heart failure not only reduces mobility but also makes the patient susceptible to physical and mental exhaustion.
5. Coronary artery disease
The pressure from high blood pressure can damage the inner lining of the coronary arteries, thereby promoting the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque. As these blood vessels become increasingly narrow, blood flow to the heart is reduced, causing the heart to lack oxygen.
Symptoms may include chest pain during exertion, a feeling of heaviness in the chest or shortness of breath. If not controlled promptly, coronary artery disease can progress to myocardial infarction or heart failure.
6. Enlarged left ventricle
High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder than normal, causing the heart muscle (especially the left ventricle) to grow to accommodate the increased pumping demand. Although initially the enlargement of the heart muscle may seem like a compensatory mechanism, over time it reduces the heart’s flexibility and efficiency.
An enlarged left ventricle not only affects the heart’s ability to pump blood, but also increases the risk of arrhythmias and heart failure. The patient may feel a strong, rapid heartbeat, fatigue easily, or even faint if the condition persists.
7. Sudden cardiac death
High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for sudden cardiac death, especially when there is pre-existing damage to the heart muscle. Severe arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation, can occur without obvious warning signs.
When the heart stops beating suddenly, blood flow to the brain and vital organs is cut off, causing the patient to lose consciousness almost immediately. If not treated within minutes, sudden cardiac death is almost always fatal.
