Amenazas para la salud provocadas por la presión arterial alta
La hipertensión arterial amenaza a su salud y a su calidad de vida
In most cases, damage done from high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) occurs over time. Left undetected or uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to:
- Ataque al corazón: la hipertensión arterial daña las arterias que comienzan a obstruirse y evitan el flujo sanguíneo al músculo cardíaco.
- Stroke — High blood pressure can cause blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to become blocked or burst.
- Insuficiencia cardíaca: el aumento de la carga de trabajo debido a la hipertensión arterial puede hacer que el corazón aumente y que no suministre sangre al cuerpo.
- Insuficiencia o enfermedad renal: la hipertensión arterial puede dañar las arterias que rodean los riñones e interferir en su capacidad para filtrar la sangre de manera eficaz.
- Pérdida de vista: la hipertensión arterial puede producir tensión o dañar los vasos sanguíneos de los ojos.
- Sexual dysfunction — High blood pressure can lead to erectile dysfunction in men and may contribute to lower libido in women.
- Angina — Over time, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease including microvascular disease (MVD). Angina, or chest pain, is a common symptom.
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD) — Atherosclerosis caused by high blood pressure can lead to narrowed arteries in the legs, arms, stomach and head, causing pain or fatigue.
Descargue la infografía sobre las consecuencias de la HTA: Inglés (PDF) | Español (PDF) | Chino tradicional (PDF)
¿Puede la hipertensión causar otros problemas?
When your blood pressure is high for too long, it damages your blood vessels – and LDL (bad) cholesterol begins to accumulate along tears in your artery walls. This leads to narrowed arteries and increases the workload of your circulatory system while decreasing its efficiency.
As a result, high blood pressure puts you at greater risk for developing life-changing and life-threating conditions.
Su mejor protección es el conocimiento, el tratamiento y la prevención
- Know your numbers. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked.
- Understand the symptoms and risks. Learn what factors could make you more likely to develop high blood pressure and put you at risk for serious medical problems.
- Make changes that matter. Take steps to reduce your risk and manage your blood pressure. Make heart-healthy lifestyle changes, take your medication as prescribed and work in partnership with your health care professionals.
La hipertensión arterial y la crisis hipertensiva
If your blood pressure readings exceed 180/120 mm Hg and you have any symptoms such as headache, chest pain, nausea/vomiting or dizziness, call 911 immediately. If you don’t have any symptoms, wait five minutes and then test your blood pressure again.
Also contact your health care professional immediately if your readings are still unusually high and you aren’t experiencing any other symptoms of target organ damage such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, change in vision or difficulty speaking. You could be experiencing a hypertensive crisis.
La hipertensión arterial y el síndrome metabólico (síndrome de resistencia a la insulina)
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors, including high blood pressure, that raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other health problems. It's diagnosed when you have any three of these risk factors:
- Alto nivel de glucemia (azúcar)
- Niveles bajos de colesterol HDL (colesterol bueno) en la sangre
- Altos niveles de triglicéridos en la sangre
- Contorno grande de la cintura o cuerpo con forma de manzana
- Hipertensión arterial
Descargue la hoja de información sobre el síndrome metabólico (PDF).
