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High Blood Pressure & Heart Health

By Dr. Vaibhav Mishra in Cardiac Sciences , Cardiac Surgery (CTVS)

Sep 25 , 2024 | 4 min read

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which the force of blood against the walls of your arteries remains consistently too high. If not treated, it can cause severe health issues. It is often referred to as a silent killer because you do not see the symptoms. However, in the long run, this can damage your health.

Common Side Effects of High Blood Pressure

Untreated hypertension can cause harm to several organs in the body. Mainly five areas are affected by hypertension, as follows:

Damage to the Arteries

High blood pressure is harmful if the excessive force caused by it damages the inner linings of our arteries. Over time, this leads to atherosclerosis, which is the thickening and narrowing of arteries, which remains a high risk for blockages. Damaged arteries may reduce the supply of blood to vital organs, leading to severe consequences such as a heart attack or stroke.

Damage to the Heart

When the heart has to pump harder due to hypertension, its muscles thicken and stiffen, affecting its ability to pump blood properly. This condition, called left ventricular hypertrophy, also raises the risk of arrhythmias, which can slowly lead to heart failure over time.

Damage to the Brain

High blood pressure can affect the brain's blood vessels, resulting in stroke and other disorders such as dementia or cognitive impairment. This can cause the arteries to either burst (hemorrhagic stroke) or become blocked (ischemic stroke), both of which are life-threatening.

Damage to the Kidneys

The kidneys have an essential function in cleaning waste and extra fluids from the blood. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels within the kidneys, which can result in kidney disease or even cause kidney failure as time passes. This poses a severe complication, as kidney failure might require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Damage to the Eyes

High blood pressure can damage the delicate blood vessels in your eyes, potentially causing vision problems or even leading to blindness. This condition, known as hypertensive retinopathy, can be especially risky for people with diabetes or other underlying health problems.

High Blood Pressure Emergencies

There are times when high blood pressure spikes suddenly and severely, which is known as a hypertensive crisis. This can cause damage to some vital organs and lead to life-threatening conditions like stroke, heart attack, or aneurysm. In such cases, immediate medical attention is required to prevent severe complications.

Prevention Strategies

Preventing high blood pressure or managing it effectively involves making healthy lifestyle choices. These include:

Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity is a major risk factor for hypertension. Losing even a small amount of weight can help lower blood pressure.
Eat a balanced diet: A diet including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein lowers blood pressure. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is often recommended.
Limit salt intake: Excess salt can cause fluid retention, which increases blood pressure. Limiting salt in your diet is a key preventative measure.
Exercise regularly: Physical activity boosts your heart health and keeps your weight in check, which is key for managing blood pressure.

Management and Treatment

Proper treatment is essential to prevent complications if high blood pressure is diagnosed. Treatment usually includes:

Medications: Common blood pressure medications include ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, and calcium channel blockers. Your doctor will suggest the most suitable one.
Monitoring: Regular blood pressure monitoring is essential. Home blood pressure monitors can help you track readings and ensure the effectiveness of your treatment plan.
Lifestyle changes: Adopting and maintaining healthy habits like those mentioned above can complement medical treatment and significantly lower your blood pressure.

When to See a Doctor

Seek medical attention if you experience severe headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness. Regular health check-ups are essential, especially for those with a family history of hypertension or related conditions.

Conclusion

High blood pressure is manageable but requires early diagnosis and consistent care. If left untreated, it could lead to severe complications that can affect the health of the heart, brain, kidneys, and other vital organs. Lifestyle changes and medical treatment are the most effective ways to control hypertension and reduce the risk of complications.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you lower blood pressure?

Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet low in salt, exercising regularly, managing stress, and taking prescribed medications can lower your blood pressure.

What happens when you have high blood pressure?

If your blood pressure is consistently high, it can lead to health problems like heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss.

What food is not to eat with high blood pressure?

Avoid foods high in sodium, processed meats, fast food, canned soups, salty snacks, and sugary drinks.

What are the long-term side effects of high blood pressure?

Long-term side effects include heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, vision loss, and cognitive decline.

What are the symptoms of a high blood pressure attack?

Usually, people with high blood pressure have no symptoms. However, once blood pressure reaches a certain level, certain symptoms begin to show, such as severe headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath, and vision changes.