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Which Organs Does High Blood Pressure Affect
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According to the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute,
hypertension or high blood pressure affects one in three adults. Normally, a person’s blood
pressure varies throughout the day. However, when blood pressure remains continuously high
regardless of the time of day or activity, then the person is said to have sustained
hypertension. It has been dubbed the ‘silent killer’ because a person may have hypertension but
he may not experience any symptoms that would alert him to his condition until serious damage is
done to the organs. Hence, it is imperative to understand how hypertension works and its related
complications so that they can be avoided. Which Organs Does High Blood Pressure AffectThe other parts of the body that are affected by high blood pressure are:Heart: According to the National Heart,
Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for
congestive heart failure. When arteries become narrowed, the heart is forced to pump harder in
order to force blood through the arteries. The heart becomes enlarged due to this increased
activity, making it contract less effectively. This cyclic deterioration is complete when the
heart speeds to make up for its ineffective contractions. Ultimately, this leads to congestive
heart failure.
Arteries: High blood pressure can lead to the hardening of arteries which can
cause damage to organs. Moreover, weak areas in the arteries can balloon and rupture due to the
increased pressure of blood on them. This is called aneurysm and can be fatal. Brain: Sustained high blood pressure can be very harmful for
the brain. Blood vessels in the brain can rupture due to consistently high blood pressure. This
bleeding is called stroke and it can cause serious debilitation and even death. Kidneys: According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases
Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney
failure. This is also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It happens when the arteries in the
kidneys are subjected to high pressure, making them work with less efficiency in ridding the body
of urine. This increases the circulating volume in the body and raises the blood pressure, thus
forming a vicious circle. Prolonged hypertension can cause kidney insufficiency or failure. People
with kidney failure must either receive a kidney transplant or have regular blood-cleansing
treatments called dialysis. Eyes: High blood pressure can rupture the blood vessels in the
eye, causing decreased vision and eventually even blindness. Since everything in our bodies works due to blood, it is obvious that any
abnormalities in its function would cause harm to the whole body. Therefore, it is essential to
maintain blood pressure within the normal range as it can save a person from many other health
complications and from their resultant expenses.
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