Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Affecting Your Body? 15 Negative Effects Of High BP & Ways To Manage It

Effects Of Hypertension On The Body

High blood pressure is not a risk factor just for your heart but your overall health. Let's take a look at the complications uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause.

1. Aneurysm: Aneurysm is the abnormal bulge in the major blood vessel (aorta) wall that carries blood from your heart to your body. Aneurysms are more common in men than in women [3]. It is caused by the constant pressure of blood moving through a weakened artery (due to high BP), which in turn may potentially rupture and cause life-threatening internal bleeding.

2. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop coronary artery disease, as high BP puts added force against the artery walls and also clogs coronary arteries with fatty plaques. The build-up of various substances can narrow the coronary arteries and develop coronary artery disease, which is the primary cause of heart attack [4].

3. Dementia: Dementia is considered as a progressive form of memory decline where the thinking ability deteriorates due to the loss of brain cells. Studies have shown that high blood pressure in mid-life is a primary risk factor for developing dementia in later life [5].

4. Artery Damage: High blood pressure puts excessive pressure on the artery walls, damaging them and resulting in fat or plaque build-up [6]. This plaque makes the arteries stiff and narrower, making them unable to do their function.

5. Angina (chest pain): Angina is not a disease but a symptom of coronary artery disease. It is also known as angina pectoris and is a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. It is often described as a heaviness, pressure or tightness in the chest. The heaviness experienced can extend to your arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach as well. Angina is common and can affect anyone. It is not life-threatening in most cases; however, it can be an indicator of heart disease. An angina attack can last from 1 to fifteen minutes [7].

6. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), also called peripheral vascular disease (PVD), is the abnormal narrowing of arteries in the leg. It is a common circulatory problem where the narrowing of the arteries will reduce the blood flow to the limbs [8]. One of the major risks for PAD is high blood pressure.

7. Enlarged Heart: Cardiomegaly is a medical condition in which the heart is bigger in size than its usual size. The condition is commonly termed an enlarged heart. For an individual with high BP, the heart has to pump harder to deliver blood to the rest of your body, enlarging and thickening the muscle [9].

8. Heart Attack: A heart attack occurs when then blood flow to the heart is blocked. It can be defined as the death of heart muscles due to the lack of blood supply. This usually happens when a blood clot blocks the artery supplying the heart muscle. Consequently, Hypertension can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which in turn decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and results in heart attacks [10].

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9. Heart Failure: High blood pressure levels in your body can increase your heart's workload and narrow the arteries. This, in turn, can weaken the heart and result in heart failure.

10. Stroke: A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain stops or is restricted. If blood flow to the brain is stopped, then there will be permanent damage to the brain resulting in instant death. High BP damages arteries throughout the body, increasing the risk of weakened arteries, resulting in stroke [11].

11. Kidney Failure: As mentioned before, high blood pressure can constrict and narrow the blood vessels, weakening them as well as the kidneys [12]. High blood pressure is one of the major causes of chronic kidney disease, and kidney disease can also cause high blood pressure.

12. Eye-sight Issues: High blood pressure can slow down and eventually restrict the blood flow to the retina and the optic nerve, both of which are responsible for sending signals to your brain. In some cases, high BP can blur your vision, whereas in severe cases, it could scar the tissue and distort your vision [13].

13. Sexual Dysfunction (both men and women): High blood pressure can slow down blood flow anywhere in the body, which can cause sexual dysfunction in both men and women. It can make you feel tired and fatigued and reduce the sex drive, too [14][15].

14. Bone Loss: Studies have pointed out that high blood pressure can cause your body to lose more calcium than the normal levels, resulting in low calcium levels. This can result in bone loss, leading to fractures, especially in older women [16].

15. Sleep Apnoea: High blood pressure has been shown to cause sleep apnoea. Several studies have linked sleep apnoea to high blood pressure since many people who are diagnosed with the condition also have high blood pressure [17].

Did You Know That Sleeping Hours Could Determine The Risk Of Heart Attacks?

Tips To Manage High Blood Pressure

Lifestyle plays a major role in treating high blood pressure. Incorporating certain lifestyle changes can lower high blood pressure naturally. Read on to know the ways to naturally lower high blood pressure.

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly - at least for 30 minutes daily
• Reduce salt (sodium) consumption [18]
• Quit smoking
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Limit caffeine consumption
• Cut back on sugar [19]
• Eat potassium-rich foods
• Include probiotics in the diet
• Manage your stress levels (talk to a doctor) [20]
• Monitor blood pressure levels regularly

On A Final Note…

High blood pressure is sometimes called the silent killer because there are no symptoms due to which it can go unnoticed for years. But a proper diet consisting of potassium, fibre, magnesium and low sodium can help control high blood pressure. Regular visits to the doctor too, are a must.