The Effects of Hypertension on the Body​

High blood pressure can sometimes have no symptoms, until you begin to experience complications. It can damage artery and blood vessel walls over time. That's why it's important to have yours checked regularly and know your numbers.

Circulatory system
Damage caused by high blood pressure starts small and builds over time. The longer it goes undiagnosed, the more serious your risks are. 
High blood pressure affects the body's major arteries, which carry blood throughout the body. These are the vessels and arteries that carry blood to vital organs and tissue.

Nervous system
High blood pressure may play a role in dementia and cognitive decline. Reduced blood flow to the brain causes memory and thinking problems. 
The same damage that high blood pressure causes to the heart can happen to the arteries in the brain. It's called a stroke when a larger blockage of blood to the brains occurs.

Urinary system
High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels leading to your kidneys. Over time, this damage stops the kidneys from doing their job properly. This is called kidney disease and can lead to kidney failure.
High blood pressure is one of the major causes of kidney failure. People with kidney failure no longer have the ability to remove waste from their body. They may need dialysis or a transplant.

The visual system
High blood pressure can damage the tiny, delicate blood vessels that supply blood to your eyes, causing;
Damage to your retina (retinopathy). Damage to the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye (retina) can lead to bleeding in the eye, blurred vision and complete loss of vision.
Fluid buildup under the retina (choroidopathy). Choroidopathy can result in distorted vision or sometimes scarring that impairs vision.
Nerve damage (optic neuropathy). Blocked blood flow can damage the optic nerve, leading to bleeding within your eye or vision loss.

Peripheral vascular system
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a slow and progressive circulation disorder. Narrowing, blockage, or spasms in a blood vessel can cause PVD.
It can affect any blood vessel outside of the heart including the arteries, veins, or lymphatic vessels. The legs and feet are most commonly affected as they may not get enough blood flow for proper function. 
Individuals with family history of high cholesterol and high blood pressure are generally at high risk of developing PVD. 

Hypertrophy of the Heart
Hypertrophy is an enlargement and thickening of the walls of your heart.
Eventually, the heart may fail to pump with as much force as needed. It is more common in people who have uncontrolled high blood pressure. 
Treating high blood pressures earlier can ease symptoms and reverse hypertrophy.

Skeletal system
High blood pressure can cause bone loss, known as osteoporosis, by increasing the amount of calcium your body gets rid of when you urinate. 
Women who have already gone through menopause are especially at risk. Osteoporosis weakens your bones and makes it easier for fractures and breaks to happen. 

Respiratory system
Like the brain and heart, arteries in the lungs can be damaged and blocked by blood clots. 
When the artery that carries blood to your lungs gets blocked, it’s called a pulmonary embolism. 
This is very serious and requires immediate medical attention. An aneurysm can also happen in the lung.

Reproductive system
Your sexual organs use extra blood flow during arousal. When high blood pressure causes blockages to the blood vessels leading to the penis or vagina, sexual dysfunction may occur. Men may have a hard time getting and maintaining an erection and women might experience:
*decreased arousal
*vaginal dryness
*trouble having an orgasm

Bottom-line
Hypertension is a condition where blood pressure rises slowly over a long period of time. 
Being aware of your high blood pressure can help you and your doctor to control it better. 
You should exercise and eat a diet that's low in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.