5 Devastating effects of high blood pressure on the body
Cardiovascular system
Hypertension strains the heart, causing left ventricular hypertrophy, increased heart failure risk, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes, and damaging blood vessels.
Brain health
Hypertension significantly contributes to cerebrovascular diseases, increasing stroke risk and vascular dementia, affecting cognitive function and memory due to damage to brain blood vessels.
Kidney damage
Persistent hypertension can lead to chronic kidney disease, compromising kidney function and affecting waste filtering and electrolyte balance.
Eyesight impairment
Hypertension can damage the eyes' small blood vessels, leading to hypertensive retinopathy, causing vision problems and potentially permanent vision loss if untreated.
Peripheral arterial disease
Hypertension accelerates atherosclerosis, narrowing and hardening arteries, leading to peripheral arterial disease, pain, slow wound healing, and increased infection risk.