Hypertension or high blood pressure transpires when blood travels through blood vessels more forcefully than usual. When blood pressure is high, it can harm artery and blood vessel walls over time, leading to risky complications and even death in severe cases.
Often, people question if high blood pressure resists blood flow, how is blood flow proportional to pressure? Simply put, it can be described as resistance increases in the arterial system, blood pressure increases, and flow decreases. In the venous system, contraction increases blood pressure as it does in arteries, and the increasing pressure helps return blood to the heart. This way, blood flow, and pressure are proportional to each other.
How Hypertension Affects the Body?
Blood pressure is estimated by systolic over diastolic pressure, which is when the heart is beating, and diastolic is when the heart rests between beats. A blood pressure reading is regular below 120/80 mmHg for an adult.
It is essential to have your blood pressure checked regularly as hypertension has no early symptoms until you experience the complications.
Following are the complications of hypertension on the body if left untreated:
Circulatory System
Damage caused by hypertension usually starts small and builds with time. The longer it goes uncontrolled, the severe it becomes. Moreover, when the pressure of the blood travels increases, it damages artery walls. This damage begins as tiny tears, resulting in bad cholesterol flowing through the bloodstream and attaching to these tears. More cholesterol builds up in the walls that narrow the artery, and less blood can flow. This phenomenon causes damage to the tissue or organ it’s assumed to reach, resulting in chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or a heart attack in the heart.
Moreover, the heart has to work harder but less effectively with high pressure and blocked arteries, eventually leading to an enlarged left ventricle that puts a higher risk of a heart attack.
Heart failure is when your heart is not being able to pump blood through your body effectively because of all the extra work it has been doing due to hypertension. Signs of heart failure are:
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty in breathing
- Swelling in the different body parts, such as feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen
- Lethargy
Hypertension can also cause an aneurysm that gets larger over time and is often not discovered until it causes pain by pushing other body areas or bursts. A ruptured aneurysm can be fatal and cause death in severe cases. For this issue, book an appointment with the best Cardiologist in Lahore through Marham for more information.
Nervous System
In case of a stroke or any other medical emergency, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention. You can visit the urgent care clinic Astoria, NY for prompt evaluation and treatment of your condition.
Hypertension may cause dementia and cognitive decline over time. Less blood flow to the brain induces memory and thinking problems. People with high blood pressure may have trouble remembering or comprehending things or losing focus amidst conversations.
An extensive blockage of blood to the brain occurs in some cases, called a stroke, and if parts of the brain cannot get oxygen from the blood, cells die.
The chances of your survival and the likelihood of permanent brain damage rely on how fierce the stroke is and how soon you get treatment. Moreover, blood vessels in the eyes can get damaged, and if they burst or bleed, it can result in vision difficulties, such as blurriness or blindness.
Skeletal System
High blood pressure can generate bone loss by increasing the calcium your body discharges when you urinate. This phenomenon is also known as osteoporosis. Women with menopause are particularly at high risk, and this condition weakens your bones and makes it easier for fractures to happen.
Respiratory System
Arteries in the lungs can get blocked due to hypertension. When the artery in your lungs gets blocked, it is called a pulmonary embolism. It is severe and demands immediate medical attention. Moreover, an aneurysm can also occur in the lung.
Sleep apnea is also linked to high blood pressure. People with sleep apnea often do not feel relaxed when they wake up in the morning, and research has found that many people diagnosed with sleep apnea also have high blood pressure.
Reproductive System
Your sexual organs utilize excess blood flow during arousal. When hypertension causes blockages to the blood vessels leading to the penis or vagina, sexual dysfunction may transpire.
Men may have a difficult time obtaining and maintaining an erection, and women might experience:
- Decreased arousal
- Vaginal dryness
- Difficulty having an orgasm
Urinary System
Your kidneys regulate blood volume and filter waste out through urine. For this, they require healthy blood vessels.
Hypertension can harm the larger blood vessels leading to your kidneys and the smaller vessels inside your kidneys. Over time, it prevents the kidneys from working effectively, which leads to kidney failure.
High blood pressure is one of the significant reasons for kidney failure. People with this kidney condition cannot naturally remove waste from their bodies and require dialysis or a transplant for survival.
Hypertension is a slow poison that causes extensive damage over a long period without prominent symptoms. Therefore, it is essential to practice healthy habits, like regular exercise and eating a healthy and balanced diet.
You should also check your blood pressure occasionally and keep track of your numbers. Hypertension is manageable if you and your doctor are aware of it. It is always better to keep a professional involved in your health journey as you can get better guidance and a chance to maintain your health.
