Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood flowing through your arteries is too high. According to Mt Auburn Nephrology of the Cincinnati, OH area, long-term hypertension can lead to chronic kidney disease. As healthy, functional kidneys are essential in regulating arterial blood pressure, their nephrologists work to diagnose and treat hypertension before it can cause kidney damage.

Possible Health Consequences Of Hypertension

High blood pressure is often referred to as “the silent killer” because it is primarily a symptomless disease. If left untreated, hypertension can result in a number of serious health issues, such as damage to the heart and coronary arteries, stroke, vision loss, peripheral artery disease, memory loss, erectile dysfunction, and fluid in the lungs.

Common Risk Factors For Hypertension

Some people are predisposed to develop high blood pressure in their lifetime. For example, African-American women over the age of 65 are most susceptible to the disease. Other risk factors include the following:

• Family History: Unfortunately, hypertension is a genetic trait, so if one or both of your parents have high blood pressure, you are likely to have it, too. That’s why it is crucial to get tested at a young age and begin taking the necessary precautions.
• Age & Gender: The older you get, the more likely you are to develop high blood pressure. While men are more prone to hypertension until the age of 45, women over the age of 65 are even more susceptible.
• Poor Diet & Lack Of Exercise: A healthy heart will maintain its condition a lot longer when you eat right and get plenty of physical exercise. Avoiding both of these can put a lot of strain on your circulatory system, which leads to high blood pressure, heart disease, blood vessel disease, stroke, and obesity.

To learn more about the side effects of sustained hypertension, contact Mt Auburn Nephrology today by calling (513) 841-0222. You can also learn more about this nephrology practice by visiting them online. For more information on avoiding blood pressure issues, follow them on Facebook.