What Can Happen If High Blood Pressure Is Left Untreated

Because people with high blood pressure usually have no symptoms until the disease reaches its peak, high blood pressure is often referred to as a “silent killer.” That is why it is important to check your blood pressure regularly.

 

This is why a lack of symptoms is why some people who know they have high blood pressure do not take steps to control and treat it. Because they feel good, they think everything is going well. But if high blood pressure is left untreated, serious problems can develop over time.

 

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause strokes. As high blood pressure causes a person's arteries to become narrower and narrower, it is harder for blood to reach the brain. This can cause clots in the brain, cause a blood vessel in the brain to leak, or cause a blood vessel in the brain to rupture.

 

Kidney disease (http://www.gothypertension.com/hypertension/hypertensionandkidneyfailure) can occur if high blood pressure is left untreated. If the arteries are narrowed due to high blood pressure, poor blood circulation throughout the body may result in the accumulation of waste products in the blood because they do not reach the kidneys often enough to dispose of all waste. As the waste increases, it becomes more and more difficult for the kidneys to try to excrete waste, putting great strain on the kidneys. This can cause kidney function to decrease dramatically or to fail completely.

 

If the kidneys start to function less than 20% of the dose, dialysis treatment will usually be required. Kidney transplants can be an option to avoid dialysis treatment for the rest of your life if a person wants a transplant and the kidneys are available.

 

Human eye problems can also occur due to untreated high blood pressure, resulting in loss of vision if you become large enough. High blood pressure can also lead to memory loss and dementia.

Heart problems are another major problem that can arise when high blood pressure is left untreated. The arteries in the heart can become stiff and tight due to blockage of blood vessels, resulting in a condition called arteriosclerosis (a narrowing of the blood vessels).

 

It is not uncommon for people with untreated high blood pressure to have plaque that builds up in the coronary arteries. Plaques reduce blood flow to the heart and can cause heart disease. High blood pressure narrows the arteries and veins in the body. Finding rich blood oxygen in the heart becomes more difficult as the arteries become narrower. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen, it will cause heart disease Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to problems including: Heart disease or stroke. High blood pressure can cause atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes or other problems. If left untreated (or uncontrolled), high blood pressure can lead to: Heart attack - High blood pressure damages potentially clogged arteries and obstructs blood flow to the heart muscle. Stroke - High blood pressure can cause the blood vessels in the brain to close easily or explode. If left untreated, a blood pressure of 180/120 or higher results in an 80% chance of dying within a year, with an average survival rate of ten months. Prolonged high blood pressure can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney disease.

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