This article will discuss some common complications of hypertension, including how they occur and further affect health. It will also answer some frequently asked questions about the complications of high blood pressure.
According to the
Some complications of high blood pressure can be serious or even lead to death. This is why it’s important to manage hypertension according to your medical team’s suggestions.
Below are some possible complications of uncontrolled hypertension:
When blood moves throughout your body with too much force, it can weaken or injure blood vessels. This
This process is known as atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis can result in a heart attack and cause other cardiovascular conditions, such as:
- coronary artery disease
- coronary heart disease
- angina
- arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to supply enough blood to the rest of the body.
Heart failure can occur due to atherosclerosis when high blood pressure
Under these conditions, the heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood. This makes it more difficult for it to meet the body’s needs and could lead to heart failure.
Heart failure can develop quickly or over the course of several years.
Read more about the development and stages of hypertension.
Hypertension significantly raises a person’s chances of experiencing a stroke. This is because hypertension
In addition, a buildup of plaque or blood clots can break off elsewhere in the body and travel to the brain, causing an embolic stroke.
Strokes can be serious or even fatal, as the surrounding brain tissue may not receive enough vital nutrients and oxygen from the blood, causing permanent damage.
Learn more about symptoms and first aid for stroke.
An aneurysm happens when hypertension creates weak spots in arteries, allowing the areas to fill with blood and bulge out in the artery wall. If these areas grow too large, they can burst and cause bleeding or death.
Aneurysms in the brain can also cause a stroke if they burst.
Aneurysms can become large before causing any noticeable symptoms. However, some tests can find them by chance.
After diabetes, high blood pressure is the second most common cause of kidney failure in the United States.
Hypertension in the kidneys can cause the kidney’s vessels to weaken and narrow because of damage. This can make it harder for the kidneys to remove waste and fluid from the body efficiently, or at all. The remaining fluid the body cannot get rid of may then raise blood pressure even more, creating a vicious cycle and potentially causing even more damage.
Just as hypertension damages blood vessels elsewhere in the body, it
Clinicians refer to this as hypertensive retinopathy.
Hypertensive retinopathy may result in further symptoms and complications, such as:
- bleeding in the eye
- blurred vision
- retinal artery or vein occlusion
- aneurysm
- glaucoma
- age-related macular degeneration
Rarely, hypertensive retinopathy and its complications may lead to vision loss. A stroke that damages the optic nerve may also contribute to vision loss.
Learn more about vision loss and how it can develop.
Atherosclerosis due to hypertension can cause blockages or narrowing of arteries and reduced blood flow in many areas of the body, including the:
- limbs
- stomach
- head
This is known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD). While this condition can cause pain and other symptoms of discomfort, some people with PAD do not have any symptoms at all.
PAD can be serious and
- infection
- erectile dysfunction
- amputation
- heart attack
- stroke
Research in 2022 suggests that having a history of hypertension may increase your risk of experiencing some kind of cognitive impairment.
Types of cognitive impairment include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- dementia
- vascular dementia, which refers to difficulty with:
- reasoning and judgment
- planning
- memory
Researchers are unsure exactly how and why this happens but suggest it could relate to malfunctioning and damage of the brain and blood.
It
Hypertension
For example, hypertension may lead to erectile dysfunction. It may also contribute to experiencing a lower libido or less interest in sex.
Having high blood pressure is one factor that can lead to a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. This is when a person has a specific group of risk factors for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
If you develop hypertension and other characteristics of metabolic syndrome, your chances of developing further health conditions may increase.
Lifestyle changes such as maintaining a moderate weight, eating a balanced nutrient-dense diet, and managing stress may help manage metabolic syndrome.
If you’re concerned about complications of hypertension, contact your doctor to review your treatment plan and receive advice.
Clinical treatments
Learn more about treatment for high blood pressure.
Megan Soliman, MD, has reviewed the following frequently asked questions.
What areas are most commonly damaged by hypertension?
“Uncontrolled” hypertension commonly causes complications and damage to the blood vessels of the body, such as the veins or arteries.
Since blood vessels are present in almost all areas of the body, hypertension can cause complications in any area of the body supplied by blood vessels.
This includes the:
- heart
- lungs
- limbs
- eyes
- brain
- reproductive organs
What causes hypertension?
Hypertension can be due to genetic predispositions, underlying conditions, and several lifestyle factors. Some common causes include:
High blood pressure — hypertension — that does not receive effective treatments or is not well managed may lead to serious complications over time.
Complications of hypertension can include stroke, kidney disease, and vision impairment. Because high blood pressure can lead to blood vessel damage, it can have many effects on circulation and heart health.
Finding treatments that work for you may help reduce any risk of complications from hypertension. Contact your doctor for individualized advice about improving your treatments and outlook.
