Hypertension Risks and Complications

Cardio-Vascular Complications

Narrowing of the Arteries (Arteriosclerosis)

Deposits of fatty substances, such as cholesterol and calcium, build up on the artery’s inner lining, hardening and thickening it.

This buildup, called plaque, may reduce the flow of blood through the arteries. A more serious condition is the rupture of this plaque, causing the formation of blood clots that may block the blood flow or might be carried to other parts of the body.

Expansion of the Main Artery (Aortic Aneurysm)

A bulge in the aorta, caused by fatty deposits that weaken this main blood vessel. Aneurysms are dangerous because they may burst. They usually occur in the abdomen, below the kidneys (abdominal aneurysm), but also in the chest (thoracic aneurysm).

Thickening of the Heart's Left Chamber (Left Ventricular Hypertrophy)

High pressure in the blood vessels increases the heart’s workload, thickening the muscle of the left pumping chamber. This condition may lead to heart failure.

All these cardio-vascular complications may seriously damage vital organs:

Brain

Stroke occurs when the blood flow to a certain area in the brain is cut off. The brain cells in that area die, possibly resulting in permanent brain damage.

Hypertension increases the risk of stroke by 4 to 6 times.

There are two types of strokes:

• Ischemic stroke: Clots from the blood vessels in the brain, or leading to it, block blood flow to the brain's cells. Ischemic stroke can also occur when too much plaque clogs the brain's blood vessels.
• Hemorrhagic stroke: When a blood vessel in the brain breaks or ruptures, blood seeps to the brain tissue, causing damage to brain cells.

The most common causes of hemorrhagic stroke are high blood pressure and brain aneurysms.

Heart

Hypertensive Heart Failure - This condition means that the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal.

When blood moves through the heart and arteries at a slower rate, pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The heart’s chambers respond by stretching, in order to hold more blood to pump through the body. The next deterioration occurs when the heart muscle walls weaken, unable to pump as strongly as necessary. The kidneys often respond by causing the body to retain fluid (water) and sodium. If fluid builds up in the arms, legs, ankles, feet, lungs or other organs, the body becomes congested - a condition defined as congestive heart failure.

Symptoms of Heart Failure:

• Shortness of breath - especially at night or during any type of physical exertion.
• Swelling in the feet, ankles, or abdomen
• Fatigue
• Greater need to urinate at night.

Kidneys

Weakened and narrowed blood vessels in the kidneys, resulting from hypertension, may affect the normal function of waste removal. This condition has no visible symptoms in its early stages.

Eyes

Hypertension may damage the blood vessels in the retina, a condition known as hypertensive retinopathy. This may lead to serious damage to the eyesight, and even to loss of vision. Severe hypertensive hetinopathy may cause headaches and vision problems.

Hypertension may also reduce your ability to think, remember and learn. Uncontrolled high blood pressure has been linked to cognitive decline and senile dementia.