What Are the Long Term Effects of Hypertension?

Most major diseases have some sort of warning sign that they exist. High blood pressure is not one of them. It is a largely silent disorder that affects one in three in the U.S. Of those, up to two thirds don't even know they have the problem.

The problems this disorder causes can be catastrophic. There isn't an organ in your body that will stand up to this amount of pressure for an extended period of time. However, there are three major complications that you should be extremely aware of.

Heart Disease: Think of your heart as an engine, and your blood vessels as the train tracks. What happens when you run an engine on high for a very long time? It can get rather messed up. So can your heart. The blood vessels can also be a problem, as they aren't meant to endure the forces put on them. The result is heart disease. The overworking of the muscle can cause many different problems, including a heart attack.

Kidney Problems: This is your body's filtration system. The blood is pumped through the kidneys to filter out waste products. When pressure is high, it can damage the filter. It's sort of like trying to filter a high power water hose with a coffee filter. As kidney disease is also somewhat silent in the beginning, you could find yourself with severe problems before you know it.

Strokes: There is nothing silent about strokes. Even small, pinpoint ones leave lasting evidence. While this could be listed under heart disease, it really deserves its own place in the spotlight, due to the severity of problems they pose.

There are several things you can do to make sure this condition is caught and treated early. Many supermarkets and pharmacies have free testers available. You should get into the habit of checking it on a regular basis. Kits can be purchased to use at home, and may be recommended if your doctor wants to see if there is a pattern to the higher numbers.

Regular checkups are also wise. There are many things that can go wrong with the body, and most of them are best caught in the initial stages. Later, there may be little the doctors can do.

Watching your sodium, fat and cholesterol levels could lower your numbers and lengthen your life. You may also want to take garlic and Omega-3 supplements.

Your doctor can give you further pointers, based on your overall health and activity level. Make sure the doctor knows about any other medical issues, all medications and all supplements you use. This will help see to it that your treatment plan is right for you.