Stroke

• ISH can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel in the brain. Bleeding from the broken vessel into the brain damages brain tissue and can cause a stroke.
  
  

Heart Attack

• Hardened arteries limit the flow of oxygen rich blood to the heart, impairing its ability to pump efficiently. Chest pain, or angina, occurs when the heart does not receive enough oxygen.
  
  

Congestive Heart Failure

• The NHLBI indicates that high blood pressure, including ISH, is the number one risk factor for congestive heart failure, which occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
  
  

Kidney Damage

• ISH can narrow and thicken the kidney's blood vessels, impairing their ability to filter waste and allowing it to build up in the blood. Over time, the kidneys may fail completely, resulting in the need for kidney dialysis.
  
  

Blindness

• ISH can cause blood vessels to rupture in the eyes. Vision may become blurry or impaired, or blindness may result.
  
  

Dementia

• According to CE Clark from the Department of Neurology at Birmingham's City Hospital NHS Trust, evidence is emerging that the effective treatment of ISH may help prevent dementia, indicating that ISH may be a contributing factor in the development of dementia.