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Is it Dangerous to Leave Hypertension Untreated?

The short answer is: YES. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) is a key cause of preventable illnesses in our society and must be treated as soon as it is discovered.

It is a risk factor for more than just heart disease. It can quietly damage your body for years before symptoms develop and if left untreated can cause disability, poor quality of life, and even a fatal heart attack and death.

3 Dangers of leaving hypertension untreated

1. Damage to arteries

Healthy arteries are strong, flexible, and elastic. The inner lining is smooth allowing free flow of blood to vital organs and tissues of the body, with sufficient nutrients and oxygen. Increased pressure can damage and narrow arteries by destroying cells of the arteries’ inner linings. This gradually causes artery walls to become thick and stiff, a medical condition called arteriosclerosis.

Eventually, you may develop chest pain (angina), heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, eye damage, and aneurysms.

2. Damage to the heart

Leaving hypertension untreated can also cause;

• Coronary artery disease – Coronary artery disease affects arteries that supply blood to the heart. Arteries become narrow meaning that blood cannot flow freely into the heart. This can cause chest pain, heart attack, or arrhythmia.
• Enlarged left heart – High blood pressure also causes the heart to work harder in order to supply sufficient blood to all body organs and tissues. This can cause the left ventricle to thicken or stiffen (hypertrophy). This condition increases risk of heart attack, heart failure, and cardiac death.
• Heart failure – Over time, the stain caused by increased blood pressure can cause the heart muscles to weaken. Eventually, the overwhelmed heart might wear out and fail.

3. Brain damage

Just like the heart, the brain relies of sufficient supply of blood and oxygen to function properly and survive. High blood pressure can cause;

• Stroke – Part of the brain is deprived of oxygen, causing blood cells in that area of the brain to die.
• Dementia – A brain disease that can cause problems in speaking, thinking, reasoning, memory, and vision.

Hypertension can also cause a series of kidney problems.

Contact Dr. Seldon

If you think you have hypertension, you need to see a doctor immediately. Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site. Call us at (212) 367-8000.