Lesser Known Dangers Of High Blood Pressure
It is well known that high blood pressure causes damage to the arteries, heart and kidneys and reasonably well understood that it can also cause damage to the brain and eyes. There is however growing evidence that it can also cause problems in other areas of the body and is now being linked to three problems in particular.
The first is sexual dysfunction which is becoming increasingly common in men over the age of 50 and appears to be increased in men who are also suffering from high blood pressure.
The second is bone loss which is being seen particularly in older women. Here it appears that hypertension increases the elimination of calcium from the body leading to a loss of bone mineral density.
The third is obstructive sleep apnea in which the relaxation of the throat muscles leads to an obstruction of the airway during sleep. It is believed that high blood pressure may trigger obstructive sleep apnea which causes a vicious circle as the poor quality of sleep leads to an increase in blood pressure which further triggers sleep apnea.