High blood pressure is a dangerous condition, and it should be treated appropriately. Over a period of time, once damage to the heart or other organs has begun, it is often irreversible. Uncontrolled high blood pressure damages the heart and other organs, accelerates hardening of the arteries and build-up of cholesterol-laden plaques on arterial walls, and can be lethal.

• If your systolic blood pressure is generally greater than 160 mm Hg, your risk of suffering stroke is four times greater than normal.

• If your diastolic blood pressure is generally greater than 95 mm Hg, your risk of developing coronary artery disease more than doubles.

• If your overall blood pressure is generally greater than 160/95, your risk of developing congestive heart failure is four times greater than normal.

High Blood Pressure And Your Heart

In people with high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to keep up the increased pressure in the blood vessels. This puts a strain on the heart in the long term. It can affect the heart in a number of ways, including:

• Coronary heart disease, in which the arteries that feed the heart become narrow and clogged with fat and cholesterol deposits. People with coronary heart disease may experience angina, the chest pain or discomfort in the chest that happens when the heart doesn't receive enough oxygen, or a heart attack, in which part of the heart is deprived of oxygen and becomes damaged.

• Left ventricular hypertrophy, in which the wall of the major pumping chamber of the heart thickens as a result of the increased work by the heart. This can damage the normal functioning of the heart. People with left ventricular hypertrophy are at increased risk for stroke, heart attack, sudden death, and heart failure.

• Congestive heart failure, which occurs when the weakened heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Fluid may build up in the ankles, legs, lungs, and other tissues.

High Blood Pressure And Stroke

High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for stroke. People with high blood pressure are up to ten times more likely than people with normal blood pressure to have a stroke.

Like the heart, the brain depends on a constant supply of oxygenated blood. A stroke occurs when the brain's supply of oxygen and other nutrients is cut off. This can happen when the arteries leading to the brain become blocked (ischemic stroke) or when the artery wall tears (hemorrhagic stroke).

This "brain attack" can cause permanent or temporary damage. If the stoppage and damage is temporary, it is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Other Damage Caused By High Blood Pressure

• Kidneys - Almost one-third of all cases of kidney failure are caused by high blood pressure.

• Bones - High blood pressure causes more calcium to be excreted in the urine, leading to a loss of bone mineral density called osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women are especially affected and may be at greater risk for fractures and other problems.

• Legs and feet - In people with high blood pressure, impaired blood flow to the legs and feet may cause a condition called peripheral vascular disease. People with peripheral vascular disease often experience leg pain, numbness, loss of leg hair, open sores on the legs, feet, and toes, and difficulty walking.

• Eyes - High blood pressure may cause damage to blood vessels in the eyes, leading to a disease of the retina.

• The brain - In older people, high blood pressure may cause a loss of mental function and contribute to decreased short-term memory and attention, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia, although the reasons why are not clear.

• Sexual drive - High blood pressure is associated with sexual dysfunction in both women and men. In one study, women with high blood pressure experienced vaginal dryness and difficulty achieving sexual satisfaction. About 17 percent of men with high blood pressure experience some form of sexual dysfunction. Some medications used to treat hypertension can also impair sexual function.