Consequences of long-term high blood pressure
The effects of high blood pressure hypertension are often underestimated. Not only serious but potentially life-threatening complications can occur, such as stroke, heart attack and sudden cardiac death. However, its not just the heart and brain that are affected. The blood vessels throughout the body suffer from persistently high pressure.
About 20 million people in Germany have high blood pressure. Among people over 55, one in two is affected by high blood pressure. Around 40 percent of all deaths in Germany are due to cardiovascular disease. High blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for developing these conditions.
The tricky thing about high blood pressure is that it usually causes no symptoms at first. Pain or noticeable signs only appear once damage has already occurred. The diagnosis is therefore often made by chance during a routine check-up with the doctor. The patient is advised to change parts of their lifestyle, pay attention to their diet and get more exercise. In some cases medication is prescribed right away. However, many people find it hard to change habits or to take their pills as prescribed because they dont feel any discomfort.
Its not only the immediately life-threatening complications that can make life difficult for someone with hypertension. The heart has to pump continuously against the higher pressure, which puts excessive strain on and damages it. One possible consequence is atrial fibrillation. The arteries that carry the pressure can change, harden, narrow from atherosclerosis, or form dangerous bulges so-called aneurysms.
The kidneys are especially involved, since they can both cause high blood pressure and suffer from it. Damage to the renal blood vessels can lead to kidney failure. High blood pressure plays a major role as a risk factor in the development of intermittent claudication, medically PAD (peripheral arterial disease), which in late stages is often called "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
- Shop-window disease - PAD
- When blood pressure spirals out of control – severely high blood pressure and hypertensive emergency
- Erectile dysfunction
This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based information and is continuously updated (as of 11/2025).
Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.
Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.
Related articles:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Recognizing a Stroke and How to Help
- Shop-window disease - PAD
- Sudden cardiac death
- When blood pressure spirals out of control – severely high blood pressure and hypertensive emergency
- High blood pressure - Arterial hypertension
- Effects on blood vessels
- Effects on the heart
- Erectile dysfunction
- Broken Heart Syndrome
