High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called a “silent killer.” That’s because it usually doesn’t cause any clear symptoms, but it can slowly harm your body in serious ways over time.
Two of the biggest dangers linked to high blood pressure are kidney failure and heart failure. These problems may seem separate, but they’re actually closely connected.
Blood pressure is the force that pushes blood through your arteries each time your heart beats. If this pressure stays high for too long, it can wear down your blood vessels and organs.
Your kidneys are especially at risk. They work like natural filters, removing waste and extra fluids from your blood. Inside the kidneys are tiny blood vessels that do this important job. But when blood pressure is too high, it can damage these delicate filters.
Over time, this damage can lead to a condition called chronic kidney disease, or CKD. A study published in The Lancet showed that people who don’t manage their high blood pressure are much more likely to develop CKD.
If the kidneys stop working properly, waste builds up in the body. This can cause more health problems and eventually lead to kidney failure. When that happens, a person might need dialysis or even a kidney transplant to stay alive.
High blood pressure also puts stress on the heart. The heart has to work harder to move blood through narrowed or stiff arteries. This can cause the heart muscle, especially the left side, to get thicker and stiffer—a condition called left ventricular hypertrophy.
When the heart becomes less flexible and efficient, it can’t pump blood as well. This may lead to heart failure, a condition where the heart can’t meet the body’s needs.
According to research in the Journal of the American Medical Association, high blood pressure is one of the top causes of heart failure, especially in older adults. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure are two to three times more likely to develop heart failure than those with normal blood pressure.
The damage from high blood pressure can create a harmful cycle. When the kidneys are injured, they can’t help control blood pressure as well, which causes pressure to rise even more. That puts extra strain on the heart. On the other hand, if the heart becomes weak, it may not pump enough blood to the kidneys, making kidney problems worse.
The good news is that this cycle can be stopped. Controlling your blood pressure can greatly lower your risk of kidney and heart failure.
Eating less salt, staying active, keeping a healthy weight, and reducing stress are simple ways to help. Medicines like ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers can also help manage your blood pressure and protect your organs.
Even though you may not feel any symptoms, high blood pressure is a serious health issue. Keeping it under control can help prevent life-threatening problems down the road. The earlier you take steps to manage your blood pressure, the better chance you have to protect your kidneys, your heart, and your life.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about why checking blood pressure while lying down is very important and lowering top blood pressure number to less than 120 mm Hg effectively prevents heart disease.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that turmeric and vitamin D may boost blood pressure control in type 2 diabetes and scientists find link between blood pressure drugs and bowel diseases.
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