Several risks can be inflicted on a patient if high blood pressure remains persistent, nearly all the risks are highly dangerous and in most cases fatal. This is why it needs to be taken seriously. Because having high blood pressure increases the strain on your arteries, it also increases the strain on you heart. Thus the main risks surrounding it are cardiac but other risks persist elsewhere. The four and most lethal risks of high blood pressure are:
o Heart Attacks and/or Heart Failure. A Heart Attack or Myocardial infarction happens when the blood supply to the heart is interrupted. This results in a sufficient oxygen shortage to the heart and if left untreated can cause long term damage and/or death. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death worldwide and so they must be taken very seriously considering high blood pressure (It is not the only risk factor present in heart attacks).
o Strokes. A stroke is an exponentially increasing loss of brain functions due to the lack of blood being supplied to the brain. Thus the brain cannot perform basic tasks without consuming the right amount of oxygen. This results in loss of speech pattern, and inability of motor skills in the patient's body which can be apparent in only one side of their anatomy. High blood pressure is the most important changeable risk factor of stroke; Strokes are also the second most common cause of death worldwide and soon may become the first, overtaking heart attacks.
o Aortic Aneurysm. An aortic aneurysm is the generic term for the swelling and dilation of the aorta. The stretched aorta can cause general discomfort and pain but the main risk is if the aorta ruptures as a result of the aneurysm; this can cause massive internal hemorrhaging and an instant death. High blood pressure is the easiest variable to change in prevention of Aortic Aneurysms.
Thus these risks are severe and are a dire wake up call for those that suffer from hypertension but choose to do nothing about it. At extremely high levels of hypertension (50% or more above average) the patient can be expected to live no more than a few years without treatment or a lifestyle change. Even a moderate increase in blood pressure can result in a drastic decrease in life expectancy. This problem is real and is killing people daily. It is up to US to change otherwise fall susceptible to the unhealthy living traits that have struck and killed so many.
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