Due to neglecting his high blood pressure, the 40-year-old man developed end-stage kidney failure.

Despite being discovered many times High Blood Pressure During routine health checkups, Mr. NVM (40 years old) did not seek treatment because he believed he was perfectly healthy. Only when he experienced frequent fatigue, pale skin, and reduced work capacity did he go to the hospital for examination.

Doctors determined that he had end-stage renal failure. The main cause stemmed from prolonged, uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Associate Professor Tran Song Giang, Deputy Director of the Cardiovascular Institute, Bach Mai Hospital, said that in reality, many people are diagnosed with hypertension but do not receive treatment because they do not have clear symptoms.

"Chronic high blood pressure is one of the common causes of heart failure and kidney failure. Many patients are aware of their high blood pressure before complications develop, but they often underestimate the severity of the condition.", Associate Professor Giang said.

According to experts, the heart can be imagined as a pump that continuously pushes blood into the arterial system to nourish the body. When blood pressure is at a normal level of around 110-120 mmHg, the heart works relatively smoothly. However, if blood pressure is consistently at 160-170 mmHg, the heart has to work harder to overcome the pressure within the blood vessels.

Prolonged overload weakens the heart muscle, increasing the risk of heart failure.

High blood pressure not only affects the heart, but also damages the entire vascular system, including the blood vessels that supply the kidneys.

Associate Professor Giang explained that the main function of the kidneys is to filter blood. When blood pressure remains high for a long time, the blood vessels in the kidneys can become hardened, narrowed, or constricted, reducing the organ's filtering capacity. Over time, kidney function declines and can progress to chronic kidney failure.

According to cardiologists, in addition to stroke – a well-known complication – high blood pressure can also cause heart failure, kidney failure, retinal damage, vision loss, and many other serious cardiovascular diseases.

To prevent dangerous complications, Associate Professor Giang recommends that people have regular health checkups 1-2 times a year. Basic tests and regular blood pressure measurements can help detect risk factors early, allowing for timely treatment before irreversible damage occurs to the heart and kidneys.

In 2025, the hospital performed over 14.000 cardiovascular interventions and more than 1.400 cardiac surgeries. Many advanced techniques such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI), MitraClip, heart transplantation, and atrial fibrillation ablation using pulsed electrical field technology have been routinely implemented, contributing to improved treatment effectiveness for severe cardiovascular diseases.