Why is untreated essential hypertension is dangerous? -

Untreated hypertension is dangerous for many reasons. It strains your kidneys, heart, and entire vascular system. You can end up with a stroke, heart failure or renal failure. The thing about hypertension is that it doesn t make you feel bad until you have serious damage done to your body.

Primary, or essential, high blood pressure accounts for 95% of all cases of hypertension. Secondary high blood pressure, which is caused by another disease or medication, is less common. Untreated high blood pressure can damage the delicate lining of the blood vessels. Once a blood vessel is damaged, fat and calcium can easily build up along the artery wall, forming a plaque. The blood vessel becomes narrowed and stiff (atherosclerosis), and blood flow through the blood vessel is reduced. Over time, decreased blood flow to certain organs in the body can cause damage, leading to: Heart disease, heart attack, and abnormal heartbeat. Stroke. Kidney (renal) failure. Peripheral arterial disease. Eye damage (retinopathy). Atherosclerosis. Click these links if you would like more info: href="rel="nofollow">href="rel="nofollow">http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.j...