High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious medical condition that can lead to life-threatening health problems if left untreated. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as the heart pumps blood. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when this force against the artery walls is too high.
When a person has high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. High blood pressure can lead to hardening and thickening of the arteries, called atherosclerosis, which can slow or block blood flow to vital organs and cause serious complications including heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss, and cognitive decline. Understanding what diseases high blood pressure is linked to is important for managing this condition.
Heart Disease
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. The higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. It can also cause atherosclerosis, which narrows arteries and reduces blood flow.
When blood flow to the heart is reduced or blocked, it can lead to angina (chest pain or discomfort) or a heart attack. A heart attack happens when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, and heart muscle cells die or become damaged because they don’t get enough oxygen. High blood pressure makes heart attacks more likely because it contributes to the hardening and narrowing of arteries.
Having high blood pressure also increases the workload on the heart. The heart has to pump harder to push blood through narrowed arteries. This causes the heart muscle to enlarge and weaken over time, leading to heart failure. With heart failure, the heart can’t pump enough blood and oxygen to meet the body’s needs. Heart failure is a progressive disease that can be disabling and life threatening.
The higher the blood pressure, the greater the strain on the heart. That’s why it’s critical to lower high blood pressure to reduce the risk of heart disease complications. Medications and lifestyle changes can help control blood pressure and prevent heart attack, heart failure, and other cardiovascular problems.
Stroke
Like heart disease, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke. A stroke happens when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Without oxygen, brain cells quickly begin to die.
There are two main types of stroke:
Ischemic stroke
An ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. The blockage can be due to a blood clot or buildup of fatty deposits called plaque. High blood pressure can damage arteries and promote atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of an arterial blockage and stroke.
Hemorrhagic stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in the brain. High blood pressure weakens the small arteries in the brain, causing them to become thin, weakened, and prone to rupture and bleeding. The higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk of hemorrhagic stroke caused by a blood vessel rupture.
More than 85% of all strokes are ischemic, while the rest are hemorrhagic. Having uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of both major stroke types. Even moderately elevated blood pressure can double or triple stroke risk compared to ideal blood pressure levels below 120/80 mm Hg.
The good news is that lowering high blood pressure decreases stroke risk quickly and significantly. Blood pressure control is one of the most important things people can do to reduce their odds of having a stroke. Antihypertensive medications are often prescribed to lower blood pressure and prevent first or recurrent stroke.
Kidney Disease
The kidneys play a key role in regulating blood pressure, and high blood pressure can damage these vital organs over time. Uncontrolled hypertension can constrict and thicken the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. This impairs kidney function and makes the organs work harder to filter waste from the blood.
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. It accounts for up to 25% of all cases of end-stage renal disease. Even mildly elevated blood pressure can increase the risk of kidney disease progression.
Hypertension causes damage in the small blood vessels of the kidneys, reducing their ability to effectively filter metabolic waste. Protein from the blood leaks into the urine, a condition called proteinuria or albuminuria. The protein causes scar tissue to form in the kidneys, further reducing function.
Eventually, uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to permanent kidney damage and end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. That’s why early detection and treatment of high blood pressure is so critical to prevent kidney impairment. Keeping blood pressure in a healthy range protects the kidneys and reduces the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Vision Loss
Like other vital organs, the eyes can also be affected by high blood pressure. Uncontrolled hypertension can damage the blood vessels supplying the retina at the back of the eye. This can impair blood flow and oxygen supply to the retina, leading to vision problems.
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of retinopathy, a condition characterized by damage to the retinal blood vessels. Two major types of retinopathy are associated with hypertension:
Hypertensive retinopathy
High blood pressure directly stresses and injures the retinal blood vessels, causing them to constrict, leak, and rupture. This disruption in blood flow damages the retinal tissue. Mild cases cause minimal vision loss, while advanced disease can block large portions of the visual field.
Retinal vein occlusion
Hypertension contributes to atherosclerosis in the delicate retinal blood vessels. Buildup of fatty deposits can lead to blocked blood flow in the veins that drain blood from the retina. This is called retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and causes visual disturbances.
In addition to retinopathy, hypertension is linked to other vision disorders including choroidal infarction, optic neuropathy, and retinal arterial macroaneurysm. Properly controlling blood pressure helps prevent eye damage and vision loss from developing or worsening. Regular eye exams are recommended for people with high blood pressure to check for signs of retinopathy.
Cognitive Decline
Research shows that high blood pressure, especially during middle age, is associated with increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia in later life. Cognitive functions like memory, thinking, and reasoning can start to deteriorate.
Hypertension during midlife can lead to subtle changes in the brain’s structure and function. MRI studies reveal that high blood pressure causes the small blood vessels in the brain to narrow and weaken. This impairs blood flow to the brain tissue, depriving it of essential oxygen and nutrients.
The hippocampus and white matter seem particularly vulnerable to damage. The hippocampus is involved in memory and learning. White matter connects different brain regions and enables communication between them. Injury to these areas can accelerate cognitive problems.
High blood pressure also contributes to vascular dementia by promoting strokes and small bleeds in the brain that lead to brain cell death. Controlling blood pressure, especially in middle age, appears crucial for maintaining brain health and cognitive function into old age. The optimal treatment goal is a blood pressure less than 130/80 mm Hg for maximum brain protection.
Conclusion
In summary, high blood pressure is linked to a number of serious medical conditions if left untreated over time. These include heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss, and cognitive decline.
The higher the blood pressure, the greater the damage to arteries, organs, and tissues throughout the body. This damage increases the risk of developing life-threatening complications. Lowering and controlling elevated blood pressure is one of the most important things people can do to remain healthy and avoid major diseases as they age.
Lifestyle changes like losing weight, exercising, reducing sodium, managing stress, and quitting smoking can help lower blood pressure. If lifestyle measures aren’t enough, blood pressure medications may be prescribed to bring levels down into a healthy range. With proper treatment, people can effectively control their blood pressure and reduce the likelihood of hypertension-related disease.