Hypertensive Heart Disease: Types, Causes And Treatment

Your heart can take a beating if you are dealing with high blood pressure over the long term. Hypertensive heart disease is any problem that occurs because of high blood pressure and can lead to heart failure or other health problems. The good news is that lifestyle changes can make your heart healthier, too. Heart disease can happen if you have unmanaged high blood pressure for a long time. The added strain on your heart could lead to heart failure or other health problems. This is why it is important to know if you have high blood pressure and to treat it if you do.

What Is Hypertensive Heart Disease?

A hypertensive heart disease is a group of medical problems that can happen when your high blood pressure (hypertension) is unmanaged. It is a long-term condition that develops over many years in people who have high blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure causes hypertensive heart disease. As people get older and continue to have high blood pressure, their risk of heart disease increases. Hypertensive heart disease is a long-term condition that develops over many years. It can happen when your high blood pressure (hypertension) goes unmanaged. As people get older and continue to have high blood pressure, their risk of heart disease increases. Heart failure occurs most often in people older than 65.

High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart failure and stroke. It strains your heart and makes it harder for it to pump your blood, so your heart muscle can get thick and weak, leading to heart failure. The walls of your blood vessels can also thicken because of high blood pressure, making it more dangerous when cholesterol collects inside the blood vessels. If you have chronic high blood pressure managed, you can reduce your risk of getting heart failure or having a stroke. Untreated high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for heart attack and stroke, as well as kidney damage, eye problems, and dementia. The good news is that having your high blood pressure managed can reduce your risk of these complications.

People with hypertensive heart disease are at increased risk for decompensated heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, and sudden cardiac death.

Types Of Hypertensive Heart Disease

High blood pressure, or hypertension, makes it more difficult for your heart to push blood through your blood vessels. When plaque collects in your blood vessels or part of your heart muscle gets bigger because of high blood pressure, you can get complications like heart attack, stroke (brain attack), or kidney failure. Over time, high blood pressure can cause serious problems such as:

• Coronary artery disease.
• Left ventricular hypertrophy (enlarged heart).

What Are The Complications Of Hypertensive Heart Disease?

There are various complications that can be associated with hypertensive heart disease such as:

• Heart failure.
• Arrhythmia.
• Stroke.
• Ischemic heart disease.
• Sudden cardiac death.

People who have high blood pressure have other different complications such as:

• Atrial fibrillation.
• Congestive heart failure.
• Coronary artery disease.
• Atherosclerosis.
• Retinal disease.
• Peripheral arterial disease.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Aortic aneurysm.
• Cerebrovascular disease.

How Common Is Hypertensive Heart Disease?

Hypertensive cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of illness and death due to high blood pressure. One out of every three adults in America has high blood pressure, but only half of those with the diagnosis have well-managed blood pressure. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of illness and death due to high blood pressure. The good news is that no matter what your age or ethnicity, you can take steps to manage your lifestyle and diet to prevent this silent killer.

Who Is At Risk For Hypertensive Heart Disease?

There are people with various situations who can be considered at risk for hypertensive heart disease such as if the person has:

• Have high blood pressure.
• Do not exercise.
• Have diabetes.
• Have high cholesterol.
• Are older than 45.
• Are overweight.
• Smoke or use tobacco products.
• Eat a high-salt diet.
• Drink alcohol.

Symptoms For Hypertensive Heart Disease

High blood pressure affects millions of Americans, and most people do not know they have it because there are no symptoms. Symptoms of hypertensive cardiovascular disease often show up after your heart has already been damaged. Because these symptoms are not always present, many people do not know they have hypertension until an event happens that makes them aware of the problem. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about testing your blood pressure. The symptoms include:

• Chest pain.
• Shortness of breath.
• Palpitations.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting.
• Stroke.
• Sudden cardiac death.

Cause For Hypertensive Heart Disease

High blood pressure that is not managed for years can cause heart damage, which can lead to heart failure. People with high blood pressure have a much higher chance of developing heart disease than those with normal blood pressure. That is because the heart must work harder to pump blood through your body when your arteries are narrowed. Over time, the heart gets bigger and thicker to pump more blood. As a result, people can experience symptoms like shortness of breath or fatigue when exercising or even at rest.

High blood pressure is the leading cause of illness and death from cardiovascular disease. Over time, high blood pressure can cause damage to your heart, brain, and kidneys. It is a serious condition that should be treated with medication and lifestyle changes. Hypertension can lead to several other health complications. Eventually, the muscle may become so thick that it does not get enough oxygen. This can cause angina (chest pain). Without appropriate blood pressure control, the heart can weaken over time and heart failure may develop. High blood pressure also leads to the thickening of the blood vessel walls. When combined with cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels, the risk of heart attack and stroke increases. Hypertensive heart disease is the leading cause of illness and death from high blood pressure.

Diagnosis For Hypertensive Heart Disease

High blood pressure is a condition that many people have. People with high blood pressure do not usually have symptoms and often do not know they have it until they go to their doctor for a routine checkup. Because of this, it is important to make regular appointments with your provider so he or she can check your blood pressure and heart health. Your provider will want to get information about your medical history, family history of heart problems, and physical exams. Your provider may want to rule out other heart problems that could be causing the heart failure. The first step is to review your records and history, then examine your heart. Tests include:

• Blood tests.
• Urine test.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG).
• Echocardiogram for some people.

Treatment For Hypertensive Heart Disease

The treatment which may be provided by the doctor may include:

• High blood pressure.
• Diabetes.
• Obesity.
• Lung disease.
• Sleep apnea.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• High cholesterol.

There are even some ways which can be asked by the doctor to apply the lifestyle such as:

• Stop smoking or using tobacco products.
• Drink less alcohol.
• Stop using recreational drugs.
• Exercise more.
• Eat less sodium.
• Lose weight.

Medications For Hypertensive Heart Disease

Most medicines have side effects, but they can be managed by a doctor. This means that when you start taking a new medicine for high blood pressure, you may experience some side effects. Your provider may suggest a different medicine or change your dosage if you have certain side effects from your current treatment such as fatigue, dizziness, or headache. Medicine that can be used to treat high blood pressure are:

• Diuretics: They can help in making your body clear excess fluid out.
• Calcium channel blockers: that may help in making your blood vessels more open.
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: It helps to loosen your blood vessels.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers relax your blood vessels.
• Vasodilators: These help in getting wider blood vessels.
• Renin-inhibitors: help loosen up your blood vessels.
• Beta-blockers slow down your heart rate and make your heart’s job easier.

Prevention For Hypertensive Heart Disease

High blood pressure is a heart-clogging number that can lead to strokes and heart attacks. Get checked once a year if you are over 18, and more often if your numbers are elevated. High blood pressure can be controlled with medication, diet changes, exercise, and weight loss. If you already have high blood pressure, take steps now to keep it under control — even if your count remains a little high. If your blood pressure is high, you need to lower it and keep it under control by using various methods such as:

• Do not stop or change high blood pressure medicines without talking to your provider.
• Carefully control diabetes and high cholesterol.

If the disease if found earlier and treated, then it may help in person from getting:

• Stroke.
• Heart disease.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Eye problems.

There are various other things that can be done to prevent hypertensive heart disease such as:

• Treat your diabetes.
• Treat your high cholesterol.