the vessels become damaged. The lining of the arteries can become roughened and thickened, and this eventually causes them to narrow and become less flexible, or elastic, than previously. This is known as arteriosclerosis. If an artery becomes too narrow, blood cannot get through properly, and the part of the body that relies on that artery for its blood supply is starved of blood and the all-important oxygen that it carries. As the artery narrows there is an increased tendency to develop blood clots (thrombosis), which may cause total blockage of the artery so that the part of the body that it serves dies. II the heart or the brain is affected, the dead area is called an infarct. OTHER RISK FACTORS High blood pressure over many years can cause all these problems, and the whole point of measuring blood pressure regularly, and treating it effectively if it is high, is to prevent these complications. However, you arc more likely to develop these complications if you smoke and if you have untreated high blood cholesterol levels. The reason is that cigarette smoking damages blood vessels in much the same way as high blood pressure, making the artery itself narrower and its lining thick and rough. High cholesterol can cause fatty deposits, called atheroma, in the lining of the artery to develop more rapidly than normal, which also helps to narrow the arteries. It is not possible for your level of serum cholesterol to be too low, and treatment to lower cholesterol saves lives. Another common risk factor that can also contribute to narrowing of the arteries, known as cardiovascular disease, is diabetes (diabetes mellitus), which affects four to five per cent of the white population and 10-15 per cent of the south Asian and Afro-Caribbean population in the UK. High glucose levels in the blood damage arteries in a similar way to high blood pressure. But it would not do to paint too gloomy a picture. The whole point of having your blood pressure checked is that, if you are found to have hypertension, it is possible to treat it effectively and so bring your risk of heart disease and strokes back down to normal. It does not matter particularly how severe the hypertension was in the first place. What is really important is how well your blood pressure is controlled over the ensuing years. It is better to have had severe hypertension that has been well treated than to have slightly raised blood pressure that remains untreated or neglected.
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