Hypertension increases the risk of which major events?

• A. Heart attack, stroke, organ failure
• B. Hair loss
• C. Muscle cramps
• D. Dizziness

Answer: (A)

Chronic high blood pressure damages blood vessels and organs over time, which raises the risk of serious cardiovascular events. When blood pressure remains elevated, arteries can develop or accelerate atherosclerosis, and the stress on the heart and vascular system makes heart muscle more prone to injury. This combination increases the likelihood of a heart attack due to narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, and a stroke due to damage or blockage of cerebral vessels. Prolonged hypertension also harms the kidneys’ tiny vessels, leading to progressive kidney dysfunction and, in severe cases, organ failure. While symptoms like hair loss, muscle cramps, or dizziness can occur for various reasons, they are not the major life-threatening events that hypertension primarily predisposes individuals to. Managing blood pressure helps reduce the risk of these major outcomes.