High blood pressure puts extra force on the walls of your blood vessels. Over time, this pressure can cause the arteries leading to your kidneys to narrow, harden, or become stiff. This condition is called renal artery stenosis. When these blood vessels narrow, less blood flows into the kidneys. Without enough blood and oxygen, the kidneys cannot work properly.
This damage to kidney arteries reduces their ability to filter waste from the blood. It also makes the kidneys less able to regulate important body functions like fluid balance and blood pressure itself. This creates a harmful cycle where damaged kidneys lead to higher blood pressure, which causes more damage.
