AHA High Blood Pressure Toolkit

3 THE PROBLEM The Domino Effect Coronary heart disease Higher BP has been associated with an increased risk of CVD, and the rate of myocardial infarction increases as BP increases. Stroke Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for stroke, with hypertension causing approximately half of all strokes. Heart failure High BP is associated with increased risk of heart failure in both men and women, and as many as 91% of patients with newly diagnosed heart failure have a history of hypertension. Kidney disease/failure Hypertension is the second leading cause of kidney failure, and nearly half of patients with chronic kidney disease do not have adequately controlled hypertension. Vision loss Long-term hypertension can harm vision in many ways, including retinopathy, choroidopathy (fluid buildup under the retina) and optic neuropathy. Hypertension, the “silent killer,” is associated with a variety of life-threatening diseases or conditions. High blood pressure is often the first domino in a chain or “domino effect” leading to devastating consequences, like: . HEART ATTACK VISION LOSS KIDNEY FAILURE HEART FAILURE STROKE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION In Practice Help your patients to avoid the serious problems that can result from blood pressure being too high for too long.