High Blood Pressure And Your Heart
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Hypertension can wreck havoc on many body organs. Its effects on the heart are especially damaging. High blood pressure and heart disease are closely connected.
Moderate to high blood pressure significantly increases the load on the left side of the heart. Arterioles are often diseased or constricted
which increases resistance to blood flow. When this happens
the heart has to work much more to pump blood into the arterial system including the aorta.
When any muscle is overused
it tends to increase in size and bulk. The heart muscles react the same way. An enlarged heart is a sign of trouble.
Heart enlargement can be detected in several ways. A chest x-ray can reveal it. So can an electrocardiogram or even a physical examination.
In many high blood pressure patients
the walls of the left ventricle thicken. This increases the workload on the heart. Eventually
the heart falters and the left side of the heart no longer pumps blood adequately.
When this happens
major organs and tissues of the body are denied sufficient blood supply. The affected person becomes lethargic and weak.
Because of the higher pressure in the left ventricle
blood from the lungs cannot drain into the top compartment of the heart (the atrium). As a result
the lung tissues get congested which brings on bouts of breathlessness and coughs.
The patient may have a dry cough or even frothy phlegm with blood stains in it. This is a very scary experience to the sufferer and onlookers. In an acute attack
it seems to the patient that he or she is choking to death.
Breathlessness due to heart problems may be first noticed during prolonged physical exertion. If the condition has progressed further
breathlessness may occur even while resting.
This is a serious situation and needs to be tacked immediately. If this damage worsens
the right side of the heart will be affected as well. When pressure builds up in the right atrium
it will be difficult for veins to drain blood into it.
When the heart's condition deteriorates to this stage
the external jugular veins may become enlarged and more prominent. These veins are anyway close to the skin and may be visible even in healthy adults
but stress on the heart can increase their protrusion.
There are several other symptoms of right side heart failure. They include an enlarged liver
swollen ankles and feet
loss of appetite
swollen abdomen and lower urine flow.
High blood pressure and heart disease frequently have a cause and effect relationship. Making necessary lifestyle changes can help combat both.
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