What Happens If High Blood Pressure Goes Untreated?
- Certain organs in the body need the oxygen from your blood to survive. For example, your brain and your heart cannot work properly without a significant amount of oxygen and nutrients. Your body receives the needed oxygen each time your heart beats; the heart pushes your blood through a system of tubes referred to as arteries. When you have high blood pressure, your heart has to work harder to complete this task, which leaves your heart prone to injury.
- High blood pressure has earned its moniker of being a "silent killer." According to the Center of Disease Control, one out of every three Americans has high blood pressure, but only one-fifth of those are aware of their condition. There are not any specific symptoms to signal high blood pressure, so it often goes untreated until it causes a more serious condition. High blood pressure causes the heart to do extra work, which eventually cause the walls of the heart to become enlarged and weak. If your heart is weak, it is unproductive.
- Untreated high blood pressure will not only weaken your heart, it will also scar and harden your arteries. Arteries are made of muscles that expand when your blood is pumped through them, but when the blood is not pumping correctly, the tubes narrow and become hard with a sticky substance made of cholesterol and fat called plaque. This is commonly referred to as atherosclerosis. The longer the high blood pressure goes untreated, the more plague builds up in the arteries. If your arteries are being hindered by plaque, you are at a severe risk of a heart attack or stroke. Or eventually there will be no way for the blood to reach the heart, leading to congestive heart failure.
- By the time a medical condition presents itself, you may have had high blood pressure for years. In order to reduce your risk of creating a long-term condition, you should have your blood pressure checked at least once a year. According to the American Heart Association, you can also control your blood pressure by knowing your ideal weight, avoiding fatty and salty food, monitoring your alcohol consumption, through exercise and by taking your medication (if needed).