High Blood Pressure and Your Heart: What You Need to Know

Why High Blood Pressure Is Called the Silent Killer

High blood pressure (hypertension) rarely causes noticeable symptoms. You can have dangerously elevated blood pressure for years without feeling unwell. This is why it is called the "silent killer" -- by the time symptoms appear, significant damage may have already occurred.

In Australia, approximately one in three adults has high blood pressure. Of those, many are unaware of their condition because they have not had it checked or because they experience no symptoms.

How High Blood Pressure Damages the Heart

When blood pressure is consistently elevated, the heart has to work harder to pump blood against the increased resistance in the arteries. Over time, this extra workload causes the heart muscle to thicken -- a condition called left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

A thickened heart muscle is stiffer and less efficient. It requires more oxygen and blood to function, which increases the risk of heart failure. High blood pressure also accelerates the build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries (atherosclerosis), increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

The damage occurs gradually over years, which is why regular blood pressure monitoring and early intervention are so important.

When to See a Cardiologist for High Blood Pressure

Your GP manages most cases of high blood pressure. However, a referral to a cardiologist is recommended if your blood pressure remains elevated despite taking two or more medications (resistant hypertension), if your GP suspects that your heart has been affected, if you have additional risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or a family history of heart disease, or if you are younger than 40 with elevated blood pressure (to investigate secondary causes).

How We Detect Heart Damage from High Blood Pressure

An echocardiogram is the primary test used to assess whether high blood pressure has affected the heart. It can show whether the heart muscle has thickened (LVH), whether the heart is pumping normally, whether the heart muscle has become stiff (diastolic dysfunction), and whether there are any associated valve problems.

Dr Grewal may also recommend a CT coronary angiogram including calcium score to assess your coronary arteries and overall cardiovascular risk profile.

At Complete Heart Centre, all consultations and diagnostic tests are fully bulk billed through Medicare.

Protecting Your Heart from High Blood Pressure

Managing blood pressure through a combination of medication (when prescribed), a heart-healthy diet low in salt, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake, and not smoking can significantly reduce the risk of heart damage.

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, regular monitoring and early cardiac assessment can detect damage before it becomes irreversible. Ask your GP for a referral to a cardiologist if you have concerns about how your blood pressure may be affecting your heart.