Complications of mild hypertension.

The complications of mild hypertension especially involve progression to moderate or severe hypertension, coronary events, strokes, and congestive heart failure. Less often, other complications such as rupture of a dissecting aneurysm, retinal hemorrhages, hypertensive encephalopathy, and renal failure may occur. Total mortality clearly rises with progressive increases in systolic or diastolic blood pressures even in ranges previously considered acceptable. It should not however be overlooked that some complications may be iatrogenic.