According to the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, hypertension or high blood pressure affects one in three adults. Normally, a person’s blood pressure varies throughout the day. However, when blood pressure remains continuously high regardless of the time of day or activity, then the person is said to have sustained hypertension. It has been dubbed the ‘silent killer’ because a person may have hypertension but he may not experience any symptoms that would alert him to his condition until serious damage is done to the organs. Hence, it is imperative to understand how hypertension works and its related complications so that they can be avoided.

Which Organs Does High Blood Pressure Affect

The other parts of the body that are affected by high blood pressure are:

Heart: According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for congestive heart failure. When arteries become narrowed, the heart is forced to pump harder in order to force blood through the arteries. The heart becomes enlarged due to this increased activity, making it contract less effectively. This cyclic deterioration is complete when the heart speeds to make up for its ineffective contractions. Ultimately, this leads to congestive heart failure.
Arteries: High blood pressure can lead to the hardening of arteries which can cause damage to organs. Moreover, weak areas in the arteries can balloon and rupture due to the increased pressure of blood on them. This is called aneurysm and can be fatal.

Brain: Sustained high blood pressure can be very harmful for the brain. Blood vessels in the brain can rupture due to consistently high blood pressure. This bleeding is called stroke and it can cause serious debilitation and even death.

Kidneys: According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. This is also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It happens when the arteries in the kidneys are subjected to high pressure, making them work with less efficiency in ridding the body of urine. This increases the circulating volume in the body and raises the blood pressure, thus forming a vicious circle. Prolonged hypertension can cause kidney insufficiency or failure. People with kidney failure must either receive a kidney transplant or have regular blood-cleansing treatments called dialysis.

Eyes: High blood pressure can rupture the blood vessels in the eye, causing decreased vision and eventually even blindness.

Since everything in our bodies works due to blood, it is obvious that any abnormalities in its function would cause harm to the whole body. Therefore, it is essential to maintain blood pressure within the normal range as it can save a person from many other health complications and from their resultant expenses.

Your Comments

Click here to add a comment

Name:


Location:


Email:


Comment:




Please enter the Captcha code:

There are no comments to display