Hypertension, which is the medical term for high blood pressure, can negatively affect the entire body, and especially cardiac health, for years before its symptoms even appear. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm HG) – 130/80 mm Hg or higher is considered hypertension, i.e. high blood pressure.

With the right treatment and lifestyle changes you can control hypertension if you already have high blood pressure. And, if your pressure is normal, you can take precautions like healthy lifestyle habits and prevent hypertension. Unfortunately, if left untreated, the damage hypertension does to the body can eventually lead to poor quality of life, disability, heart attack, stroke, and even death.

Here's how hypertension impacts cardiac health:

Arteries Damage

In general, healthy arteries are those that are elastic, flexible, and strong with a smooth inner lining that allows blood to flow freely, supplying oxygen and nutrients to vital organs and tissues.

But, in people with hypertension, the pressure of blood flowing through the arteries increases which can result in:

• Damaged and narrowed arteries – the cells of the inner lining of the arteries can become damaged as a result of high blood pressure. So, fats and food from the bloodstream can collect in these damaged arteries which leads to non-elastic artery walls that limit blood flow throughout the entire body.
• Aneurysm – over time, a part of an artery wall can bulge, forming an aneurysm, if there’s a constant pressure of blood traveling through a weak artery. Aneurysms typically form in the aorta, i.e. the largest artery in the body. Yet, they can also form in any artery. An aneurysm can burst and result in internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening.

Heart Damage

In addition to damage to the arteries, hypertension can also result in various heart conditions, such as:

• Coronary artery disease – as already noted, high blood pressure can over time damage and narrow the arteries supplying blood to the heart which develops into a condition called coronary artery disease. The heart doesn’t get enough supply of blood resulting in chest pain, known as angina, then leading to abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias. Or, it can even cause a heart attack.
• Heart failure – hypertension puts a significant strain on the heart which can result in weakened heart muscle or it can cause the heart muscle to become stiff and not work properly. Over time, the strained heart begins to fail.
• Enlarged left heart – hypertension makes the heart work harder in order to supply blood to the body. As a result, the lower left heart chamber, known as the left ventricle, thickens and enlarges, leading to a higher risk of heart attack and heart failure. Also, it raises the risk of sudden cardiac death which is the medical term for when the heart stops beating suddenly.
• Metabolic syndrome –last but not least, hypertension can increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome which is a combination of conditions that can cause heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. In short, hypertension, high blood sugar, high triglycerides levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, and excessive fat around the waist, are the conditions making up the metabolic syndrome.

In conclusion, hypertension is a serious condition that shouldn’t be left untreated. Therefore, perform regular check-ups so that you can catch it on time and get the right treatment.