The less sleep you get, the less time the brain has to regulate stress hormones, and over time, sleep deprivation could permanently hinder the brain’s ability to regulate these hormones, leading to elevated blood pressure.

leading to elevated blood pressure：现在分词短语作结果状语。

动名词作主语，谓语动词在哪里？介词 to 需要接宾语的。elevated blood pressure 是名词词组作 to 的宾语。分词短语意为“导致了血压升高”（升高了的血压）。