These temporary elevations are normal and do not harm the body. But sustained high blood pressure is extremely serious because of its long-term effect on important body organs. Over time, hypertension can lead to a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and heart failure by damaging blood vessels and restricting blood flow to vital organs. Early detection and treatment of hypertension can prevent serious complications later on. On the average, individuals with uncontrolled hypertension are three times as likely to develop heart disease, six times as likely to suffer heart failure and seven times as likely to have a stroke as individuals with controlled high blood pressure.
Most health problems have symptoms.
You feel sick, tired, weak, uncomfortable or even in pain. But you can have high blood pressure and feel perfectly fine, even though it is damaging your body. A few people may have headaches, shortness of breath, chest pains, heart palpitations or dizziness because of high blood pressure. But these symptoms can occur unrelated to hypertension. Most people experience no symptoms at all.