Why is high blood pressure a problem?

Over time, high blood pressure can lead to a number of health problems.

The good news is there are steps you can start taking today lower your blood pressure and help prevent all of these illnesses.

• Stroke
  Find out how high blood pressure can lead to a stroke, what to do if you think you or someone you’re with is having a stroke, and the treatments available. 
  
  
• Heart disease
  High blood pressure can damage your arteries and your heart, leading to a number of problems including heart attacks and heart failure.
  
  
• Kidney disease
  Your kidneys play an important role in controlling your blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage your kidneys, and kidney damage can raise your blood pressure further.
  
  
• Vascular dementia
  High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels leading to the brain, which affects the blood supply. This can lead to a type of dementia called vascular dementia.
  
  
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD) 
  High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in your legs, causing poor circulation, leading to cold and painful feet. This is known as PAD.
  
  
• Erectile dysfunction
  High blood pressure can damage your blood vessels and restrict blood flow to the penis, leading to problems getting or keeping an erection.
  
  
• High blood pressure in pregnancy
  If you have raised blood pressure before becoming pregnant, or it becomes raised during pregnancy, your blood pressure will be carefully monitored.
  
  
• Diabetes
  Having high blood pressure and diabetes together puts you more at risk of heart disease and stroke than having either one alone.
  
  
• Other health problems
  Other health problems that tend to go along with high blood pressure, such as high cholesterol or being overweight, can all add up to raise your risk of serious health problems further. 

Click to print page