High blood pressure - the technical term is hypertension - is a very common, long-term, medical condition. It does not usually have noticeable symptoms, but if left untreated or uncontrolled, it can become dangerous by increasing your risk of serious illness.
Blood pressure is divided into systolic (top number) over diastolic (bottom number). The systolic pressure is the pressure generated when the heart muscle contracts to fill the arteries. The diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries while the heart muscle relaxes. If your heart is pumping harder, and your arteries are narrower, you will have higher blood pressure.
High blood pressure takes years to develop but can be easily diagnosed. Checking your blood pressure involves a simple test that can be carried out by your doctor, or even by yourself if you have access to a blood pressure cuff.
HIgh blood pressure can be present for years without symptoms, but this does not mean it is not causing any damage. This is why checking your blood pressure routinely is recommended. The long-term strain that high blood pressure puts on the artery walls can eventually lead to serious medical somplications, such as kidney damage, heart attack or stroke. If you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to treat and control it.
The normal range of blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg (systolic, or top number) and 90/60 mmHg (diastolic, or bottom number). High blood pressure is present if your top number is consistently over 140 mmHg or your bottom number is consistently over 90 mmHg.
There are many risk factors that are associated with high blood pressure:
High blood pressure can cause damage to a number of organs: arteries, heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes can be adversely affected.
Arteries are strong, flexible, and elastic in nature, They have a smooth inner lining so blood can flow freely to vital organs and provide oxygen and nutrients. High blood pressure increases the pressure of the blood flowing in the arteries. This may then result in:
The problems high blood pressure can cause to the heart include:
The brain requires a healthy blood supply in order to function properly. High blood pressure can lead to several problems:
The 2 kidneys in the body are responsible for filtering excess fluid and waste from the blood. In order to do this, the kidney needs healthy blood vessels. High blood pressure damages the vessels that lead to the kidney. If you have diabetes, in addition to high blood pressure, this can worsen the damage to the kidney. Kidney damage can eventually lead to kidney failure, which can cause waste to accumulate in the blood at dangerous levels. Ultimately, individuals may require dialysis to compensate for a lack of kidney function.
The eyes contain tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the eye. High blood pressure damages these delicate vessels. This can then cause:
Erectile dysfunction becomes more likely in men with high blood pressure, as the blood vessels supplying the penis are damaged, disrupting the blood flow needed for an erectioon.
Women may experience sexual dysfunction as well due to reduced blood flow to the vagina, which can lead to vaginal dryness, and trouble having an orgasm.
Individuals with high blood pressure may experience a hypertensive emergency. This happens when your blood pressure is severely elevated and may constitutes a medical emergency. Hospitalization is often neeeded. Some of the symptoms of hypertensive crisis include:
If you do have high blood pressure, make sure it is well controlled. There are many lifestyle changes and medications that can help you control high blood pressure.
Mayo Clinic, “How high blood pressure can affect your body.” in Mayo Clinic, , 2019, <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045868>.
NHS Choices, “Overview - High Blood Pressure (hypertension).” in NHS, , 2019, <https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/>.
Mayo Clinic, “High blood pressure (hypertension) - Symptoms and causes.” in Mayo Clinic, , 2018, <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410>.