More than 50 million Americans have hypertension---blood pressure high enough to pose a serious health risk. Chronic or long-standing hypertension can lead to disease and have destructive effects on organs, especially the kidney, retina and blood vessels of the heart and brain. Left untreated, 50 percent of hypertensive patients die of coronary artery disease or heart failure, 33 percent from stroke and about 10 to 15 percent from kidney failure, says Leonard S. Lilly, M.D., author of "Pathophysiology of Heart Disease." There are five primary hypertensive diseases that affect different areas of the heart and body.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease involves the inability of the heart's arteries to provide adequate blood flow due to plaque formation. Hypertension accelerates this build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries and contributes significantly to the development of a heart attack. Acute or sudden heart attacks are more common in people with hypertension than those with normal blood pressure. According to Lilly, in the event of a heart attack, hypertensive patients are at much higher risk of experiencing further complications such as congestive heart failure, left ventricle aneurysm and rupturing of the heart chamber wall. Sixty percent of patients who die from a heart attack have a history of chronic hypertension, he notes.
Cerebrovascular Disease
Cerebrovascular disease affects blood vessels inside the brain and hypertension plays a significant role in its development. Chronic hypertension can lead to microanuerysms or tiny weakened spots in the brain's blood vessels. These weakened areas can rupture and result in a hemorrhagic stroke. Hypertension can also cause blockage of blood flow to the smaller arteries of the brain, leading to multiple tiny strokes. The June 2008 issue of the medical journal, Circulation, explains that chronic high blood pressure more than doubles the risk of having a stroke.
Aortic Disease
Aortic disease develops from a combination of plaque build-up and stress to the aorta as a result of hypertension. Chronic hypertension puts a significant amount of stress on the aorta and in some cases causes it to expand---an event referred to as aortic aneurysm. Once a section of the aorta has been stretched out, it is susceptible to rupture or aortic dissection. This condition again is a consequence of hypertension. Lilly explains that 90 percent of people who experience an aortic dissection will die unless corrective surgery is performed immediately.
Kidney and Retinal Diseases
Hypertension-induced kidney disease is caused by the blockage and death of the kidney's blood vessels. This condition leads to kidney failure--the inability of the kidney to regulate the body's blood volume---which worsens hypertension.
Papilledema, a disease of the retina, involves swelling of the eye's optic disc and causes blurred vision. The onset of this condition is associated with high intracranial pressure caused by chronic and severe hypertension.
References
- "Pathophysiology of Heart Disease"; Hypertension; Leonard S. Lilly, M.D.; 2007
- "Circulation"; Resistant Hypertension; D. A. Calhoun, M.D.; June 2008
