several potentially serious health conditions are linked to high blood pressure including: atherosclerosis: this is a disease of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque or fatty material on the inside walls of the blood vessels. hypertension puts added stress and force on the artery walls. heart disease: hypertension can lead to heart failure (the heart can't adequately pump blood) ischemic heart disease (the heart tissue doesn't get enough blood) and hypertensive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart). kidney disease: hypertension can damage the blood vessels and filters in the kidneys so that the kidneys cannot excrete waste properly. stroke: hypertension can lead to stroke either by contributing to the process of atherosclerosis (which can lead to blockages and/or clots) or by weakening the blood vessel wall and causing it to rupture. eye disease: hypertension can damage the very small blood vessels in the retina.
what health problems are associated with high blood pressure?