Impact of Hypertension on the Heart

High blood pressure increases the risk for heart complications such as heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Hypertension and Heart disease 

The term "heart disease" refers to several types of heart conditions, namely: 

  • Myocardial infarction
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Peripheral arterial disease
  • Artrial fibrillation 
  • Aortic aneurysm
  • Artherosclerosis.

All these conditions may develop due to hypertension.  

Heart disease may remain silent and undiagnosed until an individual develops the following: 

●Heart attack. Characterized by chest pains, Shortness of breath, Dizziness.

●Arrythmia. Characterized by Chest palpitations.

●Heart failure: Usually categorized by shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling of blood vessels.

Hypertension and Stroke 

High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke.

Stroke occurs when the arterial blood pressure is too high.

Very high blood pressure can damage arteries making them to burst or clog easily. This may lead to formation of blood clots which block blood flow especially to the brain hence stroke.