Complications of Having High Blood Pressure

A complication is defined as concurrent disease, accident, or adverse reaction that aggravates the original disease. Prolonged hypertension adds injuries to:

• Heart
• Kidneys
• Brain
• Retina
• Vascular System

Hypertensive Heart Disease

Persistent elevation of blood pressure harms the whole heart or parts of it. As a result, the individual may end up with hypertensive heart disease such as left ventricular hypertrophy which refers to the growing of the left side of the heart, or, ends up with cardiac arrhythmias due to damage to the conduction system. As well, elevated blood pressure may contribute to coronary artery disease where the arteries of the heart itself may be damaged or unable to supply enough oxygen to the heart muscle or myocardium. Last but not least, when the heart labours under abnormal conditions, it is forced to work more than usual and eventually becomes bigger and starts to have greater difficulty supplying blood, oxygen and nutrients to peripheral organs and tissues; this condition is known as congestive heart failure.

Blood Pressure and Kidneys

At some point, blood flows through the kidneys by means of small arteries that wind up in an intricate and fascinating structure called the glomerulus where the process of blood filtration occurs. Blood passes with an exact increased pressure through the glomerular tuft, in order to sift the unwanted material. The glomerulus is part of the filter unit called nephron. There are more than a million nephrons in each kidney. They are in charge of the filtration of chemicals, toxins, water, and unwanted materials from blood. Kidneys regulate the balance of water and chemicals in the body. Prolonged high blood pressure disrupts the normal function of filtration that eventually causes damage to the kidney, generating a condition known as chronic renal disease. Appropriate kidney function is crucial for life to be continued.

Hypertension and Effects on the Brain

Prolonged high blood pressure levels affect the small arteries in the brain resulting in lesions that bleed into it. As a result, the individual is at serious risk of having a stroke caused by either haemorrhage or a formation of a clot; this condition is known as thrombosis or embolism which profoundly affects the quality of life of the individual.

Hypertension and Impact on Retina

Blood flows through the retina by means of tiny, small arteries and veins that run in the back of your eye. Like other vessels they, as well, can be damaged by high blood pressure. This condition is known as retinopathy. Other changes can result from accumulation of fluid under the retina, and block of the blood flow to the optic nerve; as a result, you could bleed within your eye or have vision loss.

Hypertension and Impact on Vascular System

The vascular system consists of arteries and veins. Arteries are the ones that carry the blood under pressure to nurture the tissues. A healthy artery is flexible, strong, and elastic with a smooth inside lining. If you have high blood pressure, you may end up with lesions to the smooth inside lining of the arteries. Consequently, the blood is not freely flowing due to the hardening of the arteries, condition known as arteriosclerosis. Besides, the fat from your diet enters your bloodstream, and the fat starts to collect in the arteries, causing a disorder known as atherosclerosis. In this condition, atheroma, which is fat collection, may block blood flow to any organ in your body, such as heart, brain, kidneys, arms, and legs. On the other hand, the constant high pressure of blood might weaken a section of an artery wall generating a condition called aneurysm, which is the bulging of a part of an artery. The potential rupture of an aneurysm is a grave life-threatening internal bleeding condition.