High blood pressure or hypertension is often asymptomatic, so many people do not realize that they have hypertension. In fact, if not treated properly, this condition can lead to dangerous complications of hypertension.
Normal blood pressure for adults should ideally not exceed 120/80 mmHg. A person is said to have hypertension when his blood pressure is above 140/90 mmHg.
High blood pressure or hypertension is also known as the silent killer, because this condition often does not cause any specific symptoms or complaints. However, some people with hypertension may experience symptoms of dizziness, headache, nausea, heavy breathing, and chest pain, when their blood pressure is very high.
If hypertension occurs for years without treatment or efforts to control it, then people with hypertension whose blood pressure is not controlled can experience various dangerous complications of hypertension.
Various Complications of Hypertension
The following are some of the complications of hypertension that can occur:
1. Problems with the heart and blood vessels
Uncontrolled severe hypertension can damage the structure and function of the heart and blood vessels. As a result, complications of hypertension will appear in the heart and blood vessels, such as:
- Heart attackHypertension over time can make the arteries in the heart hard and easily damaged. If the damage to the heart's blood vessels is severe enough, the blood flow to the heart muscles will be blocked. This can then lead to a heart attack.
- Heart failureHigh blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood. This can make the walls and muscles of the heart thicken, making it difficult for the heart to pump enough blood around the body. If the heart is no longer able to pump blood properly, this condition is called heart failure.
- Aneurysm
The higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk of an aneurysm forming. If blood pressure remains high, over time this condition can cause the aneurysm to rupture. This can cause permanent organ damage or even death.
- Peripheral artery diseaseThis complication of hypertension occurs when blood flow to certain parts of the body, such as the legs, arms, stomach, and head, is reduced due to damaged blood vessels. Peripheral artery disease can make the affected body part unable to function properly.
2. Brain problems
One of the organs at high risk of damage due to complications of hypertension is the brain. There are many complications of hypertension in the brain, including:
- Minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)High blood pressure can cause the blood vessels of the brain to harden, so that blood flow in the brain becomes less smooth. In the long term, this condition can cause a minor stroke (TIA). If left untreated, hypertension that has caused a TIA is at high risk of causing a stroke.
- strokeHypertension can cause blood vessels to narrow, leak, burst, or become blocked. This can interfere with the blood flow that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain. If this happens, brain cells and tissue will die and cause a stroke.
- Brain aneurysmChronic hypertension and untreated in the long term can lead to the formation of a brain aneurysm. Aneurysms in the brain are prone to rupture and cause brain bleeding which is very dangerous.
- Memory lossUncontrolled hypertension over time can cause blood flow to the brain to become problematic. As a result, hypertension can cause brain functions, such as thinking, remembering, learning, or concentrating, to be impaired. If it is severe, this condition can develop into dementia.
3. Eye damage
High blood pressure can interfere with the function of the retina and the optic nerve, resulting in impaired vision.
One of the complications of hypertension in the eye that often occurs is hypertensive retinopathy. This condition is characterized by swelling and damage to the blood vessels in the retina, resulting in blurred vision or even blindness.
In addition, hypertension can also cause eye nerve damage due to rupture of blood vessels in the eyeball. Complications of hypertension on this one can cause visual disturbances or even permanent blindness.
4. Kidney disorders
If left untreated, high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys and impair the ability of these organs to function properly. Over time, uncontrolled hypertension can lead to complications in the form of kidney failure.
5. Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a collection of metabolic disorders in the body characterized by increased body weight or obesity, increased bad cholesterol (LDL and triglycerides), decreased good cholesterol (HDL), and impaired insulin hormone performance in the body.
Complications of hypertension that cause metabolic syndrome will make sufferers susceptible to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
6. Sexual dysfunction
Hypertension can block blood flow to the penis and cause erectile dysfunction in men, especially people with diabetes. While in women, hypertension can reduce libido (sexual desire or arousal), and make the vagina dry and difficult to orgasm.
Until now, there is no treatment for hypertension that can cure this disease completely. Treatment only aims to keep blood pressure under control and reduce the risk of complications of hypertension.
So that you avoid hypertension and various complications of hypertension above, come on, do a healthy lifestyle from now on.
Start by limiting daily salt intake (salt consumption does not exceed 2 teaspoons per day), regular exercise, maintaining an ideal body weight, avoiding alcoholic beverages, not smoking, managing stress, and undergoing regular blood pressure checks with a blood pressure monitor at home.
For those of you who already have hypertension, it is important to regularly monitor your blood pressure at home and check your health condition with your doctor so that complications of hypertension can be prevented.
