Health risks of high blood pressure

We know that high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and strokes. But, it can cause damage to your body in many other ways which includes kidney disease, diabetes and vascular dementia.

If high blood pressure is not controlled then it will cause this damage over a period of years. The result of this is a poor quality of life or a potentially fatal condition such as a heart attack. But these can be prevented if you regulate your high blood pressure by a few lifestyle changes, e.g. stopping smoking and medication.

The damage to your body from high blood pressure

This is why it is important to have your blood pressure checked and on a regular basis. Many people are unaware that they have high blood pressure which if left untreated, can lead to any one of the complications shown below. These are all discussed on an individual basis within this section.

• Aneurysm
• Arteriosclerosis
• Atherosclerosis
• Bone loss
• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes
• Enlarged heart
• Erectile dysfunction
• Heart failure
• Kidney failure
• Kidney scarring
• Metabolic syndrome
• Mild cognitive impairment
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Retinopathy
• Sleep apnoea
• Stroke
• Swollen ankles
• Transient ischemic attack
• Vascular dementia

Visit any of these to find out more about the long term effects of hypertension.