Effects of hypertension in your heart. The hypertensive heart
The care of our blood pressure is fundamental when it comes to enjoying good health, and not suffer certain diseases and related pathologies. However, the reality is that we tend not to worry about it until it is elevated and we have realized it, either because we have suffered some symptom or signal, or because we have found it elevated by pure chance.
But, do you know what it is and what is the blood pressure? Basically it consists in the pressure exerted by the heart on the arteries so that they can be able to lead the blood to the different organs of our body, through the bloodstream. In this way, while the maximum pressure is that which is obtained when the heart contracts, the minimum pressure is that which occurs when the heart relaxes.
In this sense, it is considered that a blood pressure is normal when the maximum systolic blood pressure levels are between 120-129 mmHg, and the maximum diastolic blood pressure levels are between 80 and 84 mmHg. However, it is considered normal-high when the systolic pressure figures are between 130-139 mmHg, and those of diastolic pressure (minimum) between 80-89 mmHg.
The arterial hypertension It is considered as a cardiovascular risk factor, since it supposes a greater resistance for the heart. Thus, can cause serious damage to the heart if it is not medically treated and controlled. In fact, since it is a condition that can go unnoticed by not causing symptoms at first, it is recommended to take blood pressure with some regularity after 40 years.
What are the effects of hypertension on the heart? Why does it cause so much damage?
When there is hypertension the heart must work more in order to pump blood to the aorta (the main artery). That is, high blood pressure causes greater resistance for the heart.
As a result, the heart responds by increasing its muscle mass, having to adapt to this increased stress, so that it thickens and what is medically known asLeft ventricular hypertrophy.
But not only this thickening of the different fibers of the cardiac muscle occurs. A greater connective tissue is also developed between the different muscle fibers, producing the "Hypertensive heart", so that the heart muscle becomes increasingly rigid. That is to say, it is as if the heart enters a constant process of reconstruction, becoming thicker.
The symptom of this effect is more than obvious: a dyspnea on exertion, so that the affected person usually has difficulty breathing (and having shortness of breath), when making any kind of effort.
It can also occur chest pain, because the flow of blood to the heart muscle does not tend to advance at the same pace as the muscle growth itself. As a consequence, the smaller arteries that travel through it are usually found contracted, putting at risk the oxygen supply.
Symptoms of high blood pressure in the heart
As we explained in the previous lines, a hypertension not medically treated becomes a very dangerous risk factor for the health of the heart. Its most common symptoms are the following:
- Hypertrophy of the cardiac muscle:Popularly known as the "hypertensive heart", there is a thickening of the different fibers of the cardiac muscle, developing in turn a greater amount of connective tissue between the muscle fibers.
- Dyspnea due to effort:Due to the rigidity of the heart muscle, the affected person often tires when he makes an effort, feeling it as shortness of breath and shortness of breath.
- Microangiopathy:Since the smaller arteries of the heart muscle are often contracted due to high blood pressure, both oxygen and nutrient intake can be put at risk.
- Arrhythmia:Alteration of the heart rate.
- Arteriosclerosis:Hypertension is a direct cause of hardening of the arteries.
- Angina pectoris:It feels like an oppressive pressure or pain that is placed in the chest, and may be accompanied by pain in the shoulders and arms, back, jaw and neck. Indigestion may also occur.
As we see, high blood pressure can be a direct enemy to the health of our heart. So, we must adopt healthy measures and adopt a healthy lifestyle to take care not only of the heart, but our blood pressure.This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor. ThemesHypertension
