What occurs if blood pressure remains consistently high?

Consistently high blood pressure, known as hypertension, can lead to various serious health issues, including heart disease. The reasons for this are closely tied to how sustained elevated pressure affects the cardiovascular system. Over time, high blood pressure puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels. This can result in damage to the arteries, leading to conditions such as arteriosclerosis (thickening and hardening of the arteries), which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, the heart may become enlarged or weakened, reducing its ability to pump blood effectively, which could lead to heart failure. Therefore, the connection between persistently high blood pressure and the risk of developing heart disease is well-established and critically important for overall health management.