The Silent Killer

Hypertension is a very serious condition. If left untreated for a prolonged period of time, the damage to organs can be irreversible. One important thing to keep in mind is that periodic blood pressure screenings are imperative in order to detect a condition of hypertension in its earliest stages because the condition does not always give warning signs or symptoms. This is why the disease is often referred to as “the silent killer.”

It's Complicated

Complications as a result of hypertension include: kidney disease, kidney failure, end-stage renal disease, heart disease, hardened arteries, cardiovascular disease, angina, heart attack, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, left-side heart failure, stroke, cerebrovascular disease, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, eye complications, retinal damage, impaired vision, an increased risk of coronary artery disease, increased risk of stroke, increased risk of aneurysm, increased risk of congestive heart failure, increased risk of kidney disease, increased risk of heart attack, increased risk of damage to blood vessels, increased risk of vision loss, and premature death.

Hypertension can cause serious damage to your arteries, providing an extremely narrow passage for blood flow. On the contrary, healthy arteries are strong, flexible and elastic with a smooth inner lining for free flow of blood, which provides oxygen to vital organs and tissues. Lack of oxygen and nutrients to your organs can result in the following degenerative conditions:

* Aneurysm. During a period of time, constant pressure of blood coursing through a weakened artery can cause a section of its wall to enlarge and form an aneurysm (bulge). This can potentially rupture and cause life-threatening internal bleeding. Aneurysms can form in any artery throughout the body, but most commonly in the aorta, your body's largest artery. It goes without saying that this can cause irreparable damage to your heart.

* Enlarged left heart. Because high blood pressure forces the heart to work harder than necessary in order to pump blood to the rest of the body, the left ventricle tends to enlarge or stiffen (left ventricular hypertrophy) — just as biceps get bigger after lifting weights. This condition can increase your risk of heart attack, heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

* Transient ischemic attack (TIA). When there is a lack of blood, oxygen and nutrients running through your veins due to a narrowing of the arteries, then there is a great risk of a transient ischemic attack, sometimes called a mini-stroke, which is a brief, temporary disruption of blood supply to your brain. These attacks are often caused by atherosclerosis or a blood clot - both of which can arise from high blood pressure. This condition is often a warning that you're at risk of a full-blown stroke.

* Stroke. If you allow hypertension to go untreated, it could cause a stroke, which occurs when part of your brain is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, causing brain cells to die. Lack of oxygen causes damage to your brain’s blood vessels, causing them to narrow, rupture and leak. High blood pressure can also cause blood clots to form in the arteries leading to your brain. This blocks blood flow and potentially causes a stroke.

* Dementia. Dementia is a decline in cognitive function resulting in impaired thinking, speaking, reasoning, memory, vision and movement. One cause of dementia is vascular dementia, which can result from narrowing and blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the brain. Vascular dementia, caused by high blood pressure, can also result from strokes caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain. High blood pressure that occurs as early as middle age can greatly increase the risk of dementia in later years.

* Kidney failure. One of the most common causes of kidney failure is high blood pressure. The reason for this is because it can damage both the large arteries leading to your kidneys and the tiny blood vessels (glomeruli) within the kidneys. This kind of damage inhibits the kidneys’ ability to effectively filter waste from your blood. This results in dangerous levels of fluid and waste that can accumulate in your blood stream, which may ultimately require dialysis or kidney transplantation.