The Dangers of Hypertension

Hypertension is an extremely common medical problem that affects millions of American men and women. Here, learn why high blood pressure is so dangerous and how we can help you manage your risks.

About half of all American adults have high blood pressure (hypertension), and every year, hypertension causes or contributes to about 700,000 deaths.

Understanding what causes hypertension and what steps you can take to reduce your risks is essential for preventing life-threatening complications, especially as you age.

Our team at Florida Heart, Vein, and Vascular Institute wants every patient to understand the very real dangers of hypertension so they can take steps to stay healthy. Here, learn the basics about blood pressure, and why hypertension is so dangerous to your health.

Understanding hypertension

Blood pressure is just what it sounds like: the pressure blood exerts on the walls of your arteries as it circulates through your body. Your organs and tissues are designed to receive blood within a range of pressure, and when that pressure is elevated, it can lead to substantial damage.

Blood pressure measurements include two numbers measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The first number is your systolic pressure — the force exerted each time your heart contracts and pumps blood. The second number is your diastolic pressure, reflecting the force inside your arteries in between beats, when your heart rests momentarily.

In most people, a healthy systolic pressure is less than 120mmHg, while a healthy diastolic pressure is under 80mmHg. These numbers can vary a bit in people who are extremely athletic and in older people.

Elevated pressure is when your systolic pressure is between 120 and 129mmHg, while your diastolic is under 80mmHg. High blood pressure — or hypertension — is defined as systolic pressure exceeding 130mmHG and a diastolic pressure of 80mmHg or higher.

Hypertension is further divided into three stages depending on its severity.

Hypertension can be primary or secondary. Primary hypertension develops over time as a result of aging or genetics, or due to lifestyle factors like:

Smoking
Sedentary lifestyle
Unhealthy diet
Obesity
Excessive alcohol consumption

Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure caused by another underlying medical condition, like kidney disease or sleep apnea.

Why hypertension is dangerous

As noted, elevated blood pressure means your organs and tissue are subjected to higher-than-normal pressure, too. As a result, unmanaged hypertension can lead to increased risks of serious medical problems, including:

Heart disease
Heart attack
Stroke
Kidney damage
Vision loss
Dementia
Sexual dysfunction

Elevated blood pressure also damages the inside of your blood vessels, making it easier for sticky plaques to accumulate. As these plaques build up, they cause vessels to narrow over time, increasing blood pressure further.

What makes hypertension even more dangerous is that it can be almost impossible to detect until serious medical consequences occur. Having regular blood pressure measurements and knowing your risk factors for hypertension are critically important for making sure your blood pressure issues are treated as soon as possible.

Learn how to manage your hypertension

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, if you’re at risk for developing hypertension, or if you simply want to know what you can do to maintain a healthy blood pressure, we can help.

To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with our team at Florida Heart, Vein, and Vascular Institute in Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Plant City, and Riverview, Florida, today.