Why is High Blood Pressure so Dangerous?

What happens when you put your thumb over the end of a running hose?  The pressure builds up inside.  Now imagine if that hose were made of delicate human tissue rather than strong, resilient rubber.  See where we’re going with this?

Hypertension is dangerous because it causes complications with other essential systems in your body.  Chronic high blood pressure can cause hardened arteries, which can lead to decreased blood flow throughout your body, including your heart, which itself can lead to life threatening problems such as angina (pain or damage to the heart muscle due to lack of blood flow), heart attack, heart failure (when the heart can’t pump enough blood to sustain the body) or stroke.

referred to as the ’silent killer’ because the symptoms are sometimes subtle or nonexistant

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and is caused by a blockage or rupture (picture the hose) of the arteries carrying blood to the brain.

Tiny arteries in the eyes are particularly vulnerable to high blood pressure, and can burst or rupture causing sight impairment.

The kidneys filter waste out of your blood.  High blood pressure can cause narrowing and thickening of the kidney’s blood vessels, impairing its ability to filter waste.

Hypertension has been referred to as the “silent killer” because the symptoms are sometimes subtle or nonexistant while the result can be deadly.  Make sure that you are aware of your blood pressure, particularly if you are part of a group that is at higher risk such as African Americans or those with a family history.

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm

http://www.bloodpressureanswersonline.com/index.html

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