How does high blood pressure lead to cardiovascular disease?

Hey everyone, I've been hearing a lot about how high blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular disease, but I'm not exactly sure how that works. Can someone explain the connection between the two?

Top Replies

Certainly! High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can damage the walls of your arteries. This damage can cause plaque to build up, leading to narrowed or blocked arteries. When this happens, it can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, which are both forms of cardiovascular disease.

Additionally, high blood pressure can also cause the heart to work harder than normal, which can lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure over time. This is another way that high blood pressure can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.

It's important to note that not everyone with high blood pressure will develop cardiovascular disease, but it does significantly increase the risk. That's why it's so important to manage high blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medication if necessary. By keeping blood pressure under control, we can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.