Hypertensive heart disease refers to a constellation of changes in the left ventricle, left atrium and coronary arteries as a result of chronic blood pressure elevation. It’s a group of medical problems ― like heart failure and conduction arrhythmias ― that can happen when the person doesn’t control his high blood pressure (hypertension).
Essential hypertension accounts for 90% of cases of hypertension in adults. Secondary causes of hypertension account for the remaining 10% of cases of chronically elevated BP.
Hypertension increases the workload on the heart inducing structural and functional changes in the myocardium. These changes include hypertrophy of the left ventricle, which can progress to heart failure.
Clinically, hypertensive heart disease is characterized by the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in the absence of a cause other than arterial hypertension.
The main risk factor for hypertensive heart disease is high blood pressure. The risk increases if the person overweight, not exercise enough, smoking, eating food high in fat and cholesterol. Chronic high blood pressure (higher than 120/80 mmHg) causes hypertensive heart disease. As people get older and continue to have high blood pressure, their risk of heart disease increases.
Hypertensive heart disease can cause serious health problems. Hypertensive heart disease can lead to either diastolic heart failure, systolic failure or a combination of the two. Such patients are at a higher risk for developing acute complications such as decompensated heart failure, acute coronary syndrome or sudden cardiac death.
The types of hypertensive heart disease include:
*Narrowing of the arteries
*Thickening and enlargement of the heart
What is hypertensive heart disease?
