High blood pressure is a condition where your blood pressure is elevated for a longer period. Also known as hypertension, chronic high blood pressure can make you more susceptible to several potentially fatal health complications.
The longer your blood pressure remains uncontrolled, the more likely you’ll be to develop these complications. That’s why it’s important to find out if you have high blood pressure so you can start treating it.
What is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force that your heart uses to pump blood throughout your body. Your blood pressure measurement is determined by how much blood your heart has to pump and how hard it is for the blood to move through your arteries. The harder your heart works, the higher your blood pressure will be.
There are two main types of hypertension: primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension, also known as essential hypertension, is the most common type of high blood pressure and tends to develop gradually over several years. It often has no identifiable cause.
Secondary hypertension is usually the result of an underlying condition like congenital heart defects, illegal drug use, kidney disease, or thyroid and adrenal gland problems.
Most people won’t experience any noticeable symptoms of high blood pressure so it’s important to get regular checks so you can catch it early, take preventative measures, or control existing hypertension.
Complications of Uncontrolled Hypertension
- It raises your risk of heart disease and heart failure.
- It increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.
- It can cause potential kidney damage.
- Makes you more susceptible to eye problems, including vision loss.
- It can cause aneurysms.
- It can lead to diabetes.
- It may develop sexual problems, like low sex drive or erectile dysfunction.
- Makes you more likely to develop memory and concentration problems.
- Increases your risk of developing dementia.
- It can lead to premature death.
How to get a Blood Pressure Test in Northampton?
At West Chemist, we offer several services to help you maintain good health including blood pressure checks. Our team will carry out a quick blood pressure check to confirm whether your blood pressure is in a healthy range.
Contact us to find out more or book your appointment online.
2 Comments
What should your normal blood pressure be? · June 26, 2023 at 2:52 pm
[…] Blood pressure is the measure of how hard your heart has to work to pump blood throughout your body. Blood pressure levels can fluctuate throughout your life and can even change depending on the time of day. However, having persistently high or low blood pressure readings could be a sign of something more serious. […]
Where do I get my blood pressure checked? · July 18, 2023 at 2:30 pm
[…] falls, and weakness. It can sometimes even be a sign of a more severe underlying health issue. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can make you more susceptible to heart disease, stroke, and heart […]
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