How high blood pressure can impact your general health

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called the ‘silent killer’ and for good reason. It typically develops without noticeable symptoms but can quietly damage your body over time which can lead to serious, and sometimes life-threatening health complications. This means that many people are unaware they are living with one of the risk factors most commonly associated with heart attacks and stroke.

In 2019, the British Heart Foundation published an article stating that according to new estimates they had produced, 4 million people under the age of 65 in the UK were living with untreated high blood pressure – 1.3 million of these people being under the age of 45.

Untreated high blood pressure can significantly raise the risk of heart attack and stroke as well as being associated with vascular dementia and chronic kidney disease. Diseases caused by high blood pressure cost the NHS over £2.1bn every year, however it is an easily treatable condition. With simple lifestyle changes or medication (depending on the individual) you could reduce your blood pressure and in turn reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke – the key is being aware of your blood pressure.

The prevalence of hypertension

A 2021 study carried out by the NHS investigated the prevalence of hypertension by both age and sex. They found that the prevalence of total hypertension increased with age, from 9% of adults aged 16-44 to 60% of adults aged 65 and over.

The prevalence of untreated hypertension was highest at an earlier age in men than women. Among men, untreated hypertension was highest in those aged 45-64 (25%) while among women, this proportion increased with age and was highest in those aged 65 and over (25%).

What areas of your body does high blood pressure effect?

Cardiovascular system

Hypertension puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels which over time can lead to:

• Coronary Artery Disease: Narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the heart, increase the risk of chest pain (angina), heart attacks and arrhythmias.

• Heart failure: The heart works harder to pump blood around your body which can eventually cause the heart muscle to weaken or stiffen.

• Aneurysms: Constant, long-term pressure can lead to arteries bulging and potentially rupturing which leads to internal bleeding.

Brain health

Your brain relies on a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood and high blood pressure can disrupt this flow, which can result in:

• Stroke: Damaged or blocked blood vessels can lead to strokes which may cause permanent brain damage or potentially death.

• Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs): These are often called ‘mini strokes’ and are warning signs of future strokes.

• Cognitive decline: Reduced blood flow can impair memory and thinking could be an early sign that high blood pressure is impacting your brain and some forms of dementia may be directly linked to a lack of blood flow to the brain.

Kidney function

In order to perform properly, healthy kidneys depend on healthy blood vessels which hypertension can damage leading to:

• Kidney disease: High blood pressure can damage the arteries leading to the kidneys and over time they can lose their ability to filter waste from the body.

• Kidney failure: In severe cases kidney disease can progress into kidney failure which may require dialysis or transplant.

Vision

Your eyes have very delicate blood vessels that can be damaged as a result of high blood pressure causing:

• Retinopathy: Bleeding and blurred vision which can lead to blindness in some cases.

• Choroidopathy: Fluid build-up under the retina which can cause distorted vision.

• Optic neuropathy: Nerve damage that can result in vision loss.

Sexual health

Reduced blood flow as a result in hypertension can affect sexual function in both men and women:

• Men: Erectile dysfunction can become more common.

• Women: May experience lower libido and vaginal dryness.

Skeletal and Respiratory systems

As a result of high blood pressure some people experience:

• Osteoporosis: High blood pressure causes the body to eliminate more calcium which can lead to weakening of the bones.

• Sleep apnea: This condition disrupts sleep and could be triggered by high blood pressure and increases cardiovascular risk.

The impact of blood pressure reduction

A 2015 systematic review published by The Lancet found that in the populations studies, for every 10mmHg reduction in blood pressure resulted in a:

• 17% reduction in coronary heart disease
• 27% reduction for stroke
• 28% reduction for heart failure
• 13% reduction in all-cause mortality

In 2023, a World Health Organization report detailed the global impact of hypertension and how an increase in the number of patients effectively treated for hypertension to levels observed in high-performing countries could prevent 76 million deaths, 120 million strokes, 79 million heart attacks and 17 million cases of heart failure between the time of publication and 2050.

As you can see from this article – managing high blood pressure is crucial for protecting your overall health. With regular check-ups, a balanced diet, exercise and if necessary prescribed medication, you can keep on top of your blood pressure and reduce your risk of serious complications.

You can read more about top tips to reduce high blood pressure here.

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