High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels lead to atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. This, in turn, increases the chances of having a heart attack or a stroke. For example, patients who have high blood pressure (who usually have no symptoms at all) and do not take any blood pressure-lowering medication may have a two to three times higher chance of having a stroke or heart attack over a five year period than patients who are treated with medications. Other complications of high blood pressure and high cholesterol include heart failure, kidney failure, sudden death and peripheral vascular disease, which can cause leg pain with exercise.

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