If high blood pressure is undiagnosed and left untreated, it can lead to significant health problems. These problems are discussed in the following sections.
High blood pressure makes the heart work harder to pump blood through the body and contributes to narrowing of the arteries or arteriosclerosis. Progressively, high blood pressure damages the blood vessels, and can eventually lead to the development of a number of serious conditions. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop coronary heart disease and six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure. Also, high blood pressure is the main modifiable risk factor for stroke.1
Effective blood pressure treatment is an essential part of cardiovascular risk management. Ask your doctor about other risk factors. He or she may, for example, check your glucose or cholesterol levels.
Yes, effective treatment of high blood pressure is possible. Controlling high blood pressure may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. It is important to follow your doctor's recommendations carefully. Sometimes, when lifestyle changes are not enough to control high blood pressure, your doctor will also prescribe medication.
1. Bangalore S, Messerli FM. A review of stroke in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease: Focus on calcium channel blockers. 2006;60:1281–6.
