The Dangers of Hypertension

Hypertension (high blood pressure) can affect anyone. Your likelihood increases with age, and there are numerous other risk factors, including smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and a high-sodium diet. 

The tricky thing about hypertension is that it doesn’t cause symptoms. You can live with high blood pressure for years and have no idea. This is risky because of the many dangerous complications of high blood pressure. 

Nearly half of adults 20 and older in the United States have elevated or high blood pressure, with many going undiagnosed. Whether you’re aware of your hypertension or curious if you have it, Laika Rodriguez, ND, can help you keep your blood pressure in check at Salem Wellness Clinic in Salem, Oregon. 

If you’re not aware of the dangers of hypertension, now is a great time to learn. Here, we’ll teach you about common complications of high blood pressure and what you can do today to lower your risk. 

How hypertension affects your organs

When you have hypertension, the force of blood against the inner walls of your blood vessels is excessively high. To keep blood pumping, your heart must work harder than it normally does. While your arteries are naturally strong and elastic, fats can accumulate along their walls, making them more rigid and less flexible. This is called atherosclerosis. 

With or without atherosclerosis, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in various organs. This causes organs to function improperly, leading to a variety of health complications. 

Common health complications of high blood pressure

Damage from high blood pressure can affect vital organs, including your heart, kidneys, and brain. Some damage happens gradually, while other damage can happen in an instant. 

For example, an aneurysm happens when there is a weak spot in an artery that eventually bursts and causes life-threatening internal bleeding. 

Some common chronic and acute complications of high blood pressure are:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure
• Stroke and ministroke
• Dementia and cognitive impairment
• Kidney failure
• Retinopathy
• Optic nerve damage
• Sexual dysfunction

Sometimes hypertension is an acute event called hypertensive crisis. If your blood pressure spikes rapidly, it may become a medical emergency. In this case, hypertension causes symptoms that can include chest pain, blurry vision, and severe headache.  

Lifestyle changes for blood pressure management

Salem Wellness Clinic promotes natural blood pressure management through healthy lifestyle changes before turning to prescription medications. Your daily choices can help you manage your blood pressure and overall health so you can avoid hypertension complications. 

Our team can help you get your blood pressure under control with individualized recommendations. We might advise you to:

• Manage your weight
• Quit smoking and tobacco use
• Reduce your alcohol consumption
• Reduce your salt intake
• Exercise regularly
• Discover healthy outlets for stress

If these strategies don’t effectively lower your blood pressure, prescription medications are the next step. 

Hypertension complications range from life-altering to deadly, but they’re preventable. Schedule your next visit online or over the phone at Salem Wellness Clinic for a blood pressure reading today.