5 Ways High Blood Pressure Affects Your Health 

Maggie Spears shared that if left untreated, high blood pressure could cause adverse effects on your health. The long-term force caused on your artery walls can, with time, lead to complications such as stroke, heart failure, and heart attack. Because high blood pressure has become so common, people may be tempted to assume that it’s just a normal condition, and it’s no big deal. However, the truth is that if left untreated, high blood pressure can cause life-threatening complications. The following are the different health effects caused by high blood pressure.

1.   It causes Kidney Damage

Kidneys are important in regulating the body’s complex functions and getting rid of toxins that may cause harm to the body if they accumulate. If high blood pressure causes damage to the arteries that are found around the kidneys, their functionality and their ability to filter out blood essentially might be threatened, and the worst that could happen is you getting kidney failure.

2.   Risk of Developing Vision Problems

The eye is made up of minute blood vessels that can be easily damaged by high blood pressure. The optic nerve can also swell due to the damage done to the blood vessels and lead to vision problems. Vision problems can sometimes be reversed by lowering the blood pressure and ensuring it is at the required pressure. Untreated high blood pressure can not only cause vision difficulties but also lead to impairment.
 

3.   High Risk of Hypertensive Crisis

A hypertensive crisis is a medical condition that causes a rapid rise in blood pressure above 120/180. Extremely high blood pressure potentially damages the body organs. Symptoms that you may be going through a hypertensive crisis are such as:

  • Nose bleeding
  • Severe headaches
  • Blurry vision
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness

4.   Heart Attack or Stroke

When the walls of the arteries are damaged, they are likely to have plaque deposits that make them hard, narrow them up and eventually become blocked. The plaque deposits can sometimes turn into blood clots that can block blood flow in the bloodstream. When not enough blood flows to the heart and brain, one may develop a stroke or heart attack. The heart and brain muscles need a consistent blood flow for the body to operate normally.

5.   Chest Pains

Angina, also called chest pains, usually occurs when the heart receives enough blood. Angina causes pressure, pain, or squeezing in the chest when people suffering from high blood pressure perform activities such as exercising or when going up steps.

Other health effects of high blood pressure include contributing to low libido in women and erectile dysfunction in men.

Taking Care of your Cardiovascular Health

High blood pressure can be identified and treated early with regular hospital visits and checkups. During checkups, blood pressure should be checked in both arms using an appropriate-sized arm cuff to note if there is a difference. Suppose your doctor diagnoses you with high blood pressure or any risk factors that could cause cardiovascular diseases. In that case, they will suggest regular visits so that your health is put under control.

High blood pressure can be treated if you adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle or a combination of prescribed medication. Small changes in your eating habit such as limiting alcohol intake, eating a low-sodium diet, regular exercise, and quitting smoking could go a long way in preventing cardiovascular diseases.

You can also take a supplement for high blood pressure that helps to reduce abdominal fat, boost blood flow, and reduce insulin resistance, hence helping the body fight against high blood pressure. These supplements contain high polyphenols concentration and are naturally packed to help manage high blood pressure levels. Supplements for high blood pressure work best for people who do not want to take prescription pills.

Understanding the symptoms and risks brought about by high blood pressure helps one make better life choices, especially when it comes to dieting. Working in partnership with your health professionals and taking your medication as prescribed by the doctor is also important to avoid serious medical problems. It is possible to have high blood pressure for years without showing any symptoms. This is why you should make hospital visits a routine to detect any health problems and curb the situation.

The risk of high blood pressure also increases as you age; hence it is essential to monitor the levels. In older women, high blood pressure can sometimes be mistaken for menopause.

Maggie graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in communication and writing. In her spare time, she loves to dance, read, and bake. She also enjoys traveling and scouting out new brunch locations.  

The rights to the main photo provided: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-black-tube-1001897/

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