What is a common complication of untreated hypertension?

Untreated hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to a variety of serious health complications, one of the most significant being coronary artery disease (CAD). High blood pressure contributes to the development of CAD by causing damage to the blood vessels over time. This damage can lead to atherosclerosis, where arteries become narrowed and hardened due to the buildup of plaque. As a result, the heart may not receive adequate blood supply, which can lead to symptoms like angina (chest pain) and increase the risk of heart attacks.

Hypertension also increases the workload on the heart as it works harder to pump blood against the elevated pressure in the arteries. This increased workload can lead to the thickening of the heart muscle (left ventricular hypertrophy), further increasing the risk of cardiac events and complications associated with coronary artery disease.

In contrast, other options such as asthma, cancers, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not direct complications of untreated hypertension. While they may have their own risk factors and can be affected by lifestyle choices correlated with hypertension, they do not stem specifically from the physiological consequences of untreated high blood pressure. Thus, coronary artery disease stands out as the primary and most directly related complication arising from untreated hypertension.