According to CDC’s recent estimates, nearly 47% of adults in the US suffer from hypertension. These whopping numbers are alarming and a huge cause of concern among healthcare professionals. But what is hypertension? Hypertension is defined as chronic high blood pressure where the systolic pressure is over 130mmHg, and the diastolic pressure is over 80mmHg.
If these numbers show up on the sphygmomanometer constantly, you’re labeled hypertensive and need medication to keep it in check. Without intervention, hypertension can cause many problems in your body and deeply affect your overall health. Here are the most alarming issues that arise in the body due to hypertension.
Cardiac Issues
One of the biggest consequences of untreated hypertension is the resulting cardiac issues. When your blood pressure remains high for extended periods, it can start damaging your blood vessels. At the same time, LDL cholesterol also starts accumulating in the vessels, constricting them even further. This narrows the arteries and affects the blood flowing in the body, especially the blood flowing to and from the heart.
As a result, you have a higher risk of suffering from cardiac issues such as angina, heart attack, and even heart failure.
Stroke
The blood vessels supplying blood to your brain can also become constricted due to high blood pressure. It can even lead to the bursting of arteries leading to the brain. Consequently, the chances of stroke increase manifold for people suffering from hypertension.
Atherosclerosis
Hypertension can cause constricted blood vessels in the peripheral areas of the body such as arms, legs, stomach, and head. This may result in a serious condition called atherosclerosis or Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). In this condition, the person may suffer from chronic pain and fatigue.
Kidney Malfunction
With persistently high blood pressure, the blood vessels around the kidney can become damaged, and blood flow to the organ can be hindered. As a result, the kidneys start malfunctioning as they’re unable to perform their primary function properly, i.e., filter the blood and remove impurities.
Vision Loss
Hypertension can put strain on the blood vessels near your eyes and even damage them. When your eyes don’t get blood properly, they start losing their function. For this reason, people with untreated hypertension may suffer from gradual vision loss.
Sexual Troubles
Sexual troubles and dysfunction are fairly common among people suffering from hypertension. This is because it may hinder the proper flow of blood to the genitals, which may cause erectile dysfunction in men and consistently low libido in women.
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