The Effect of Chronic Hypertension on the Heart

High blood pressure is a serious medical condition that can lead to serious complications. Blood pressure can be controlled with medications and healthy lifestyle choices.

Significance

• According to the Mayo Clinic, almost all people will eventually have high blood pressure within their lifetime.

Causes

• Hypertension may result as a natural consequence of aging, weight gain and inactivity. Other causes of hypertension may include stress, using tobacco, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, eating too much sodium and deficiencies in potassium and vitamin D.

Effects

• High blood pressure may damage the arteries over time, causing them to narrow and harden. This condition is known as atherosclerosis, which can lead to a heart attack. Also, high blood pressure may cause the heart muscle to thicken abnormally, which can eventually lead to heart failure.

Medical Treatments

• High blood pressure may be treated with prescription medications such as thiazide diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, vasodilators and beta blockers.

Lifestyle Treatments

• Lifestyle treatments that may help lower and control high blood pressure include limiting sodium intake, losing weight, avoiding tobacco and managing stress.