Coronary heart disease affects blood pressure. Heart disease leads to narrowing of the arteries that supply blood flow to the heart. Blood pressure control using medication and lifestyle approaches becomes essential for patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease to protect the heart and surrounding blood vessels from damage. Untreated blood pressure can affect all of the organs and blood vessels in the body.
Hypertension
Coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease causes hypertension (high blood pressure). The process that leads to plaque buildup or hardening of the arteries begins early in life. The blood vessels become narrow, restricting blood flow through the arteries, veins and capillaries. Prescribed medications targeted to lower blood pressure and decrease the workload of the heart, combined with drugs that improve blood flow, and following a no-salt diet can help control blood pressure for patients with known coronary heart disease.
Hypotension
Coronary heart disease can eventually lead to low blood pressure (hypotension) from damage to the heart muscle. When the heart works hard to push blood through arteries narrowed by plaque buildup the heart muscle becomes enlarged. The heart valves that normally close completely with each heartbeat become incompetent, allowing blood and fluid to back up into the heart and lungs. Fluid accumulates in the lungs and other tissues of the body from heart failure. Symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling in the abdomen or extremities, fatigue and low blood pressure that occurs with activity causing dizziness.
Erratic Blood Pressure
Coronary artery disease can also lead to cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart rate), resulting in high then low blood pressure as the rhythm disturbance comes and goes. If a dangerous arrhythmia occurs and is sustained, blood pressure can become so low that it leads to unconsciousness and death. Heart rhythm disturbances might be intermittent, producing a warning sign of coronary heart disease. Heart disease can lead to a fast heart rate with normal electrical signals (sinus tachycardia). Slow heart rate (sinus bradycardia or heart block), or irregular and fast heart rate in the lower portion of the heart (ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation) can be life threatening from coronary heart disease. "Quivering" of the top portion of the heart (atrial fibrillation) can be a sign of heart disease. Cardiac arrhythmias associated with blockage in the arteries of the heart can produce erratic blood pressure readings. Sustained heart rhythm disturbances can lead to sudden severe low blood pressure that requires immediate treatment.
