Hypertensive Heart Disease
DefinitionHypertensive heart disease is a late complication of hypertension (high blood pressure) that affects the heart.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart, and over time, this can cause thickening of the heart muscle and the symptoms of hypertensive heart disease.
As the heart continues to pump against elevated pressure in the blood vessels, the left ventricle becomes enlarged, cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped by the heart each minute) goes down, and without treatment, symptoms of congestive heart failure may develop.
High blood pressure is the most common risk factor for heart disease and stroke. For example, it can cause ischemic heart disease (decreased blood to the heart muscle that results in anginal chest pain and heart attacks) because of the increased supply of oxygen needed by the thicker heart muscle.
High blood pressure also contributes to the thickening of the blood vessel walls, which in turn may aggravate atherosclerosis (characerized by increased cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels). This also increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke.
Hypertensive heart disease is the leading cause of illness and death from hypertension. It affects approximately 7 out of 1,000 people.
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