Consequences of persistently high blood pressure
The consequences of high blood pressure - hypertension - are often underestimated. Possible complications include stroke, heart attack and sudden cardiac death, which are not only serious but can even be life-threatening. However, the heart and brain are not the only organs affected. Blood vessels throughout the body suffer from persistently high pressure.
About 20 million people in Germany have high blood pressure. Among people over the age of 55, one in two is affected. Around 40 percent of all deaths in Germany are attributable to cardiovascular diseases. High blood pressure is one of the greatest risk factors for developing these diseases.
The problem with high blood pressure is that it initially causes no symptoms. Pain or noticeable abnormalities only occur once damage has already developed. It is therefore usually diagnosed by chance during a routine medical examination. The doctor advises the person affected to make some lifestyle changes, pay attention to their diet, and exercise more. In some cases, medication is prescribed straight away. However, many people find it difficult to make changes and take their tablets as prescribed because they do not feel unwell.
After all, it is not only the directly life-threatening complications that can make life difficult for someone with hypertension. The heart must constantly pump against the elevated pressure, which places excessive strain on it and damages it. One possible consequence is atrial fibrillation. The arteries carrying the pressure can change, harden, narrow due to atherosclerosis, or form dangerous bulges known as aneurysms.
The kidneys are particularly affected, as they can both cause high blood pressure and be damaged by it. Damage to the kidney vessels can lead to kidney failure. High blood pressure plays a major role as a risk factor in the development of PAD (peripheral arterial disease), which can cause intermittent claudication and in its late stages is often referred to as smoker's leg.
Articles in this category:
- Effects on blood vessels
- Effects on the heart
- High blood pressure and dementia
- High blood pressure and vision
- High blood pressure and kidneys
- Recognizing and Helping During a Heart Attack
- Atrial fibrillation
- Sudden cardiac death
- Recognizing a Stroke and How to Help
- Intermittent claudication - PAD
- When blood pressure spirals out of control – severely high blood pressure and hypertensive emergency
- Erectile dysfunction
This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 11/2025).
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
Similar articles:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Recognizing a Stroke and How to Help
- Intermittent claudication - PAD
- Sudden cardiac death
- When blood pressure spirals out of control – severely high blood pressure and hypertensive emergency
- Recognizing and Helping During a Heart Attack
- Effects on blood vessels
- Effects on the heart
- Broken Heart Syndrome
- High blood pressure and kidneys
