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Complications of hypertension

Ola Amr Fouad ID:1313

What is hypertension:

Hypertension or “Silent Killer” is a suddenly raise in blood pressure over the normal range (120/80),it’s so
called because it hasn’t any warning signs or symptoms

Complications of hypertension:

1. Cardiovascular system:
• High blood pressure is a major risk factor for
hypertensive heart disease
• Coronary artery disease: High blood pressure
contributes to the thickening of the blood vessel walls ,
which can cause or worsen atherosclerosis (
accumulated deposits of cholesterol in the blood
vessels). The end result is Coronary artery disease (
CAD ) , also called ischemic heart disease.
• CAD which increases the risk for angina, heart attack,
stroke, and death

• Heart Failure: High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload. These will lead to thickening of
heart muscle and finally enlargement of left ventricle. The amount of blood pumped by the heart
each minute (cardiac output) goes down. Without treatment, this can lead to heart failure.

• Cardiac Arrhythmias. High blood pressure increases the risk for cardiac arrhythmias (disturbances
and irregularities in heartbeats). Arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular
contractions, and ventricular tachycardia.

2. Cerebrovascular Disease:

About two-thirds of people who suffer a first stroke have moderate
elevated blood pressure that cause thickening of the blood vessel walls.
This can cause or worsen atherosclerosis and finally lead to stroke. Stroke
happened as the result of rupture or blockage of the blood vessel in the
brain. Hypertension is also an important cause of so-called silent cerebral
infarcts, or blockages (mini-strokes) that may predict major stroke or
progress to dementia over time.

• Blood vessels blockage at extremities

• Renal disease

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