Hypertensive arteriosclerosis

Hypertension is a leading identifiable and reversible risk factor for myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, aortic dissection, peripheral arterial disease, stroke and kidney failure. Hypertension is a known risk factor for arteriosclerosis, and causes both atherosclerosis of medium-large arteries and arteriolosclerosis of the arterioles. It is associated with cardiovascular risk.

When plaque (fatty deposits) clogs the arteries, that’s called atherosclerosis. These deposits are made up of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin (a clotting material in the blood).

Atherosclerosis lesions take different shapes depending on the anatomic side, age, genetic and physiological status of recipients, also including the so-called risk factors.

Hypertension and atherosclerosis are the two major diseases of the arterial system. They are intimately associated; hypertension begets atherosclerosis, and less frequently, atherosclerosis begets hypertension.

On the one hand, hypertension causes premature death and disability by hastening the complications of atherosclerosis - heart attacks and strokes.
Hypertensive arteriosclerosis          

What is arteriosclerosis?

Arteriosclerosis is the vascular disease that is the leading cause of mortality in industrialized countries. Arteriosclerosis is a general term use to describe several conditions in which the arteries become narrow and blocked, also known as hardening of the arteries. The condition is a leading cause of stroke and is associated with heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and other disorders.

Arteriosclerosis produces fatty material, called plaque that accumulates and lines the artery walls. The arteries become smaller in diameters, then clogged. This results in decreases blood circulation or cessation of the blood flow.

The deposits can partially or completely obstruct blood flow to the heart the brain and other vital organs. Arteries in the arms, legs, hands and feet can also be affected.

Coronary artery disease is one type of arteriosclerosis that affects only the inner linings of arteries; it is responsible for most heart disease. Obesity is strongly associated with the metabolic syndrome, which promotes arteriosclerosis and coronary artery disease.

Currently, there are 3 lesions within the broader category of arteriosclerosis:
*Atherosclerosis
*Monckeberg’s arteriosclerosis
* Arteriolosclerosis: associated with hypertension
What is arteriosclerosis?

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