Negative Effects of Untreated High Blood Pressure
What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when the pressure of pushing the blood against artery walls is consistently too high, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood effectively (Mayo Foundation, 2022). Generally, blood pressure (BP) higher than 130/80 is considered high. You can see a breakdown on how blood pressure readings work here. There are two types of hypertension: primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension occurs when a person has high BP with no identifiable cause - this type typically develops gradually over time (Mayo Foundation, 2022). Secondary hypertension is high BP caused by an underlying condition, such as a congenital heart defect, tumors on the adrenal gland, sleep apnea etc. Secondary hypertension tends to occur more suddenly and result in higher BP readings than primary hypertension (Mayo Foundation, 2022).
Recognizing High Blood Pressure
Often, there are no signs or symptoms of high BP aside from a high BP reading. As a result, hypertension often goes unnoticed for long periods of time if folks don’t see their doctor regularly and do not check their blood pressure. There are several risk factors for hypertension which include: a family history of hypertension; plaque build up in the arteries, age (risk increases with age); race (hypertension is more prevalent among Black people, likely due to inequitable access to needed resources and social determinants of health); tobacco use or vaping; low potassium levels; and prolonged stress.
Potential Complications
If left untreated, high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can result in organ damage to your heart, kidneys, and/or brain. High blood pressure causes arteries to gradually stiffen, decreasing the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and other organs. This significantly increases your risk of a heart attack. Because the heart has to work harder to pump blood when there is high blood pressure, it can result in a thickening of the heart’s chamber walls. Without treatment, the heart will eventually be unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, resulting in heart failure. Kidney damage can also occur as a result of weakening or narrowing of the blood vessels in the kidneys (Mayo Foundation, 2022). As a result of decreased blood flow to the brain, individuals with untreated hypertension may also experience changes in memory and cognition, which can progress to vascular dementia.
If you’re concerned about high blood pressure, talk to your doctor or schedule an annual exam to discuss prevention. You can also check out our blog on natural BP management.
Reference
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, September 15). High blood pressure (hypertension). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 28, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410