The Connection Between Hypertension, Heart Disease, and Stroke
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a serious medical condition that affects nearly half of adults in the United States. When left untreated, hypertension can lead to life-threatening health issues including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
What is Hypertension?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as the heart pumps blood. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, develops when the pressure against the artery walls becomes too high.
Blood pressure readings have two numbers. The top number is the systolic pressure, which measures pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure, which measures pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.
Hypertension is typically defined as having a blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg. So if your systolic pressure is above 140 or your diastolic pressure is above 90, you would be considered to have high blood pressure.
Classification of Hypertension
There are different classifications of high blood pressure:
- Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89 mmHg
- Stage 1 Hypertension: 140-159/90-99 mmHg
- Stage 2 Hypertension: Over 160/100 mmHg
The higher the blood pressure, the greater the health risks. That's why it's important to keep blood pressure under control before complications develop.
How Hypertension Leads to Heart Disease
Uncontrolled high blood pressure puts strain on the heart and damages blood vessels over time. This leads to various heart conditions that fall under the broad term "heart disease."
Coronary Artery Disease
With hypertension, the heart has to pump harder to push blood through narrowed or blocked arteries. This can lead to coronary artery disease (CAD), where plaque buildup narrows the coronary arteries supplying oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
Reduced blood flow can cause chest pain or discomfort called angina. If a plaque ruptures, it can cause a blood clot which may block the artery entirely, resulting in a heart attack.
Enlarged Left Heart
Pumping against high pressure causes the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber, to thicken and stiffen. This leads to an enlarged, weaker heart muscle called left ventricular hypertrophy.
This causes the ventricle to work harder and reduces its efficiency. An enlarged heart is linked to a higher risk of heart failure, stroke, and sudden cardiac arrest.
Heart Failure
Over time, the strain on the heart from uncontrolled hypertension causes the heart muscle to weaken and work less efficiently. As heart failure progresses, the heart cannot pump adequate blood and oxygen to meet the body's needs.
Early signs include shortness of breath, fatigue, and swollen legs. Without treatment, the heart will continue to weaken leading to a substantially reduced quality of life.
How Hypertension Leads to Stroke
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or severely reduced. This deprives brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients, causing brain cells to die.
Ischemic Stroke
There are two main types of stroke - ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke accounts for about 87% of all cases and occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery supplying blood to the brain.
Hypertension is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke because over time it damages arteries, making them narrow, stiff and more likely to become blocked. High blood pressure also increases the risk of ruptured or weakened blood vessels.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue. The two types are intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Intracerebral hemorrhage happens when an artery in the brain leaks blood into the surrounding tissue, damaging brain cells. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding into the space between the brain and the tissue covering it.
Chronic hypertension weakens the walls of arteries over time, making them more prone to rupture and hemorrhage. Extreme spikes in blood pressure can also trigger bleeding.
Stroke Risk Factors
High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. The risk of stroke doubles with every 20 point increase in systolic blood pressure. Other factors that increase your risk when combined with hypertension include:
- Tobacco use
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
- Unhealthy diet
Controlling blood pressure along with other stroke risk factors significantly reduces your risk of having a stroke.
Preventing Hypertension Complications
The key is to prevent hypertension in the first place or detect it early. But if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, strictly controlling it is vital.
Along with any medication your doctor prescribes, lifestyle changes can have a big impact. Losing extra weight, eating healthy, reducing sodium, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly all help lower blood pressure.
By keeping your blood pressure under control, you can reduce your risk of serious complications like heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and cognitive decline.
Monitoring your numbers with home testing allows you to detect patterns and take action when needed. Partner with your doctor, check your blood pressure regularly, and stick to healthy lifestyle changes.
Controlling high blood pressure is challenging but worth the effort. It could save your life by preventing fatal complications like stroke and heart disease down the road.
FAQs
Can you have high blood pressure and not know it?
Yes, that's why hypertension is called the "silent killer." Many people have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. The only way to know if your blood pressure is elevated is to get it checked regularly.
What are the warning signs of a heart attack?
Common signs of a heart attack include pressure, tightness, pain, or discomfort in the chest; pain in the arms, neck, jaw, or upper back; nausea; cold sweats; and shortness of breath. Women are more likely to have less obvious symptoms.
What are the warning signs of a stroke?
F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember stroke signs: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911. Other signs include sudden confusion, vision problems, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headache.
Can high blood pressure be cured?
There is no "cure" for primary hypertension, but it can be successfully controlled through medications like diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors. Lifestyle changes like losing weight, exercising, and eating less sodium also help lower blood pressure.
What is a "silent" heart attack or stroke?
A silent heart attack or stroke happens when blood flow is blocked but the person is not aware it happened. There may be no symptoms at first but it still causes damage and puts you at higher risk for a future major event.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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