Definition of Hypertensive Heart Disease

Heart disease affects thousands of Americans annually. It can be caused by a number of factors and can be exhibited through a variety of symptoms. Hypertensive heart disease is one of the many forms of heart disease.

Hypertensive Heart Disease Definition

• The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines hypertensive heart disease as referring to coronary artery disease, heart failure and enlargement of the heart as a result of high blood pressure.

Blood Pressure's Impact on Hypertensive Heart Disease

• Hypertensive heart disease can result from many factors, most notably high blood pressure, which is also the most common risk factor for stroke. Hypertensive heart disease is the leading cause of illness and death resulting from high blood pressure.

Possible Results of Hypertensive Heart Disease

• Hypertensive heart disease can result in a variety of health complications, including angina, arrhythmia, heart attack, heart failure, stroke and death. Those with high blood pressure are encouraged to seek medical help to avoid any of these potential outcomes.

Preventing Hypertensive Heart Disease

• Just as hypertensive heart disease can be the result of numerous factors, you can reduce the risk of contracting the disease in many ways, including treating high blood pressure and having it checked regularly, carefully monitoring and controlling diabetes, reducing salt intake, exercising and quitting smoking.

Genetic Risk Factors

• In the United States, death from hypertensive heart disease is more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians. In addition, hypertension is the most common cause of heart failure in the U.S. among African-Americans.