5) Visual problems
Have you heard the term “hypertensive encephalopathy”? It was first used in 1928. In that time some encephalopathic findings were associated with the accelerated malignant phase of hypertension and the retinal area. In other words, when high blood pressure is not discovered and treated on time, it can also affect the patient’s eyesight and lead to eye disease.
The terms “accelerated” and “malignant” describe correctly how bad it might be for the retina the presence of hypertension.
The retina is the area at the back of the eye where we focus the images we see. That’s why this eye disease has the medical term of hypertensive retinopathy, and it is the one that will cause vision problems, usually related to headaches. The damage can be severe if hypertension is not treated.
