May is national blood pressure month, so we’re emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy blood pressure level and the dangers of hypertension. While most people are aware that high blood pressure (or hypertension) is dangerous, they’re not always aware of all the health risks that can come from having high blood pressure.
Here are some of the possible consequences of hypertension:
- Strokes occur when blood or oxygen cannot reach the brain properly. High blood pressure weakens or damages arteries, putting you at higher risk of having a stroke.
- Insufficient blood and oxygen to the brain can also contribute to dementia or other cognitive impairment.
- High blood pressure puts you at a higher risk of having a seizure. Like strokes, seizures affect the brain and require immediate medical attention.
- Hypertension forces your heart to work harder. This extra strain can lead to heart attacks or even heart failure.
- An aneurysm is an enlarged artery. This occurs when the artery wall has been weakened to the point where it can no longer maintain its shape. Aneurysms can be caused by hypertension and increase the risk of a ruptured artery.
- High blood pressure damages the arteries and blood vessels throughout your body, including those in the kidney. This damage can lead to kidney failure.
- Your eyes can be affected by hypertension as well. Loss of vision, damage to the nerve endings, and damage to the blood vessels in your eyes are all possible consequences of high blood pressure.
- Hypertension can lead to an increased amount of calcium in urine. This depletes the amount of calcium in your body, which can lead to a loss in bone density.
- Since the circulatory system goes through your entire body, it’s no surprise that so many different organs can be affected by high blood pressure.But what makes hypertension is especially dangerous is that it can go unnoticed. You can have high blood pressure without symptoms. Schedule regular appointments with your doctor to prevent hypertension sneaking up on you.