What is the significance of essential hypertension?

Many organs effected: Think of high blood pressure as stressing almost every organ and vessel in the body (increases wall tension of vessels and increases plaque build-up). It is often called the "silent killer" because usually there are no symptoms but over years can result in cardiac disease, heart failure, kidney failure, decreased circulation in feet, blindness, and stroke.

Long Term Things: If the blood pressure is less than perhaps 200 (on the top number - systolic) then the worries are almost all long-term issues. Damage to the heart, kidneys, and brain are all to be expected with chronic high blood pressure. Damage to other organs often follows these 3.