Kidney Problems
Kidneys filter excess fluid and waste from the blood, a process that requires healthy blood vessels. High blood pressure can damage the arteries and lead to the kidneys not functioning well. Having diabetes in addition to HBP can worsen the damage. Kidney problems caused by high blood pressure include:
Kidney scarring
This type of kidney damage occurs when tiny blood vessels within the kidney become scarred and unable to effectively filter fluid and waste from the blood. Kidney scarring can lead to kidney failure.
Kidney failure
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of kidney failure. Damaged blood vessels prevent kidneys from effectively filtering waste from the blood, allowing dangerous levels of fluid and waste to accumulate.