Common Complications of Hypertension - By Dr. Mohammad S. Rais
Dr. Mohammed Rais is a native of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He earned his undergraduate degree at Notre Dame College in 1977. His medical schooling was completed at Dhaka Medical College, where he also completed his first-year residency as the Assistant Surgeon on In-Service Training and Assistant Surgeon Trainer, respectively. Dr.... more
What is hypertension?
Hypertension is uncontrolled high blood condition, and it's a very common condition in the United States. If left untreated, hypertension can cause a wide range of complications that are sometimes fatal. Today, I'm going to explain the most common complications of hypertension that patients can experience.
1. Heart attack or stroke
One common complication is a heart attack or stroke. Because hypertension can thicken the body's arteries, it can cause a patient to have a heart attack, stroke, or another similar complication.
2. Aneurysm
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can weaken your blood vessels, which can form an aneurysm. Aneurysms can be life-threatening conditions if they rupture.
3. Heart failure
High blood pressure causes your heart to work harder to pump blood throughout your body. This thickens the heart's walls, making it difficult to pump blood and often leading to heart failure.
4. Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a variety of disorders in your body's metabolism, which includes your body's blood pressure and insulin levels. If not managed properly, it can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
5. Difficulties with memory
Not only can hypertension cause further cardiovascular and metabolic issues, it can also cause issues with memory. High blood pressure may cause issues with your ability to think, learn, and remember.
6. Vascular dementia
High blood pressure may also cause vascular dementia. This is from narrowed or blocked arteries that can limit blood flow to the brain.
What are the risk factors for hypertension?
There are several risks for hypertension, including age; race; family history; being overweight; not being physically active; tobacco use; stress; diet; and alcohol use.
