One serious consequence of the damage wrought on your arteries by hypertension, is the possibility of a stroke.

This can happen in two ways: firstly, a blood clot may form in an artery, cutting off part of the brain from oxygenated blood. This is known as a thrombotic stroke.

The second sort occurs when the increased pressure and decreased artery flexibility cause a blood vessel to burst – this is known as a haemorragic stroke.