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High blood pressure threatens your health and quality of life In most cases damage from high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) happens over time. If not detected and controlled, high blood pressure can lead to:
View the consequences of HBP infographic: How can hypertension cause other health problems?When blood pressure is high for too long, it can damage the walls of blood vessels, causing them to develop tiny tears. To fix these damaged areas, the body sends special cells that stick to the site. Over time, substances such as cholesterol and fats may also build up at these damaged spots, forming plaque. As plaque slowly builds, a process called atherosclerosis, it can make the inside of the arteries narrower. This narrowing can block the flow of blood, increasing the risk for serious conditions such as a heart attack or stroke.
In severe hypertension, if your blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mm Hg: Wait at least 1 minute. Take your blood pressure again. If the second reading is just as high, check for these symptoms: Chest pain Shortness of breath Back pain Numbness Weakness Change in vision Difficulty speaking If you do not have any of these symptoms or any other new and concerning symptoms, you likely have severe hypertension. You should contact your health care professional. Your health care professional may start or adjust blood pressure medication. Chest pain Shortness of breath Back pain Numbness Weakness Change in vision Difficulty speaking High blood pressure and metabolic syndromeMetabolic syndrome is a group of factors that raise your risk of major health problems including heart disease, diabetes and stroke. High blood pressure is one of those factors. Metabolic syndrome may be diagnosed when you have three or more of these: View the metabolic syndrome fact sheet (PDF). (责任编辑：) |
