Arteriosclerosis and hypertension

Chronic hypertension leads to reactive changes in smaller arteries and arterioles throughout the body, collectively termed arteriosclerosis.

What is arteriosclerosis? Arteriosclerosis is a diffuse lesion which often affects long segments of the arterial tree in which there is usually a combination of hypertrophic and fibrous changes in the entire thickness of all layers of the arterial wall.

Arterial hypertension is generally regarded as an important causative factor in arteriosclerosis. Hypertension can produce arterial stiffness by functional and structural mechanisms.

With the increased intramural pressure, the load-bearing elastic lamellae stretch and the walls of the arteries to become firmer and thicker, and the lumen are often wider than normal. Arteries appear to be generally enlarged and they may become somewhat tortuous.

These changes can be seen especially in the retinal arteries, kidneys, pancreas and other organs.

The combination of arteriosclerosis and hypertension causes the risk for aneurysm, a weakening or bulging of a portion of the arterials wall that is susceptible to rupture.
Arteriosclerosis and hypertension