What are some complications arising from hypertension?

Verified by Dr. Bharat Agarwal, Sr. Consultant General Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic medical condition in which the force of blood against the artery walls is too high.

Serious complications of hypertension

• Heart attack: Hypertension can damage the arteries that supply blood to the heart, increasing the risk of a heart attack.
• Stroke: High blood pressure can also damage the arteries that supply blood to the brain, increasing the risk of a stroke.
• Heart failure: Hypertension can weaken the heart muscle, making it unable to pump blood effectively. This can lead to heart failure, a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
• Kidney disease: High blood pressure can damage the kidneys, leading to kidney disease. Kidney disease can eventually lead to kidney failure, a life-threatening condition that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
• Aneurysm: High blood pressure can also weaken the walls of the arteries, making them more likely to bulge outward. This condition is known as an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures, it can lead to life-threatening bleeding.
• Vision loss: Hypertension can damage the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This can lead to vision loss.
• Dementia: Hypertension can damage the blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk of dementia. Dementia is a group of conditions that cause a decline in thinking, memory, and language skills.

In addition to these specific complications, hypertension can also increase the risk of death from all causes.

It is important to note that these complications can develop even in people with mildly elevated blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the greater the risk of complications.

If you have hypertension, it is important to work with an expert to control your blood pressure. This may involve lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. In some cases, medication may also be necessary.

Consult our expert, Dr. Bharat Agarwal, Sr. Consultant General Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.

Call 022 6280 6280 for an appointment.