What is a potential complication of untreated hypertension?

Untreated hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to several serious health complications, with heart disease being one of the most significant. High blood pressure increases the workload on the heart, causing it to enlarge and weaken over time. This elevated pressure can also damage the arteries, making them less elastic and more prone to atherosclerosis, where fatty deposits build up and restrict blood flow.

As the heart and blood vessels are negatively impacted, the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and heart failure increases. This connection between hypertension and heart disease underscores the importance of managing blood pressure effectively to reduce these risks.

In contrast, while conditions like diabetes, asthma, and allergies are important health issues, they do not primarily stem from untreated hypertension in the same way that heart disease does. Instead, they have different pathophysiological processes and risk factors. Thus, heart disease stands out as a direct and severe complication resulting from untreated hypertension.