People who have chronic high blood pressure often have stiff and noncompliant arteries due to atherosclerosis.

In your initial post, explain how this will affect the following:

Blood flow through the arteries
Left ventricular afterload

MODEL ANSWER

Cardiovascular Physiology

Cardiovascular Physiology involves addressing the physiology of the heart and blood vessels. This field entails assessing and solving any health problems related to the blood vessels and the heart. Among the most common cardiovascular infections is chronic high blood pressure, a health condition that involves increased force of blood on the walls of the arteries, which can result in other health complications. High blood pressure is associated with a few unnoticeable symptoms, which makes it detection and control very difficult (Ando et al., 2019). Uncontrolled hypertension damages the arteries and also increases risks of heart attack and stroke alongside other cardiovascular disorders. Blood pressure in the arteries is usually modified by conditions such as atherosclerosis, which leads to the stiffness of the arteries.

Atherosclerosis is a health problem that involves building up of plaque inside the arteries. The built-up plaque comprises cholesterol, fat, calcium and other elements in the blood. As plaque hardens, the arteries are narrowed, which interferes with the normal flow of blood. It becomes hard for the arteries to transport the same amount of blood they used to because of the reduced circumference (Kim et al., 2016). Therefore, speed of blood flow is likely to increase to deliver the same amount required in specific body organs, which results in high blood pressure.

Coronary artery obstruction to the left ventricle restricts contractility. Therefore, left ventricular failure arises because of the reduced cardiac output from the left ventricle of the heart. Initially, production from the right ventricle is maintained while pressure in the arteries located in the left increases. For equilibrium purposes, left ventricular output increases until the two ventricles have equal cardiac outputs. Raised pulmonary venous pressure result in increased respiratory elastic resistance and lowered lung compliance (Ando et al., 2019). The increased pressure also increases respiratory distress and work. Ultimately, plasma fluid flows in the alveoli, which develops pulmonary edema.

References

Ando, K., Shimada, K., Yamazaki, T., Uchiyama, S., Uemura, Y., Ishizuka, N., … & Yokoyama, K. (2019). Influence of blood pressure on the effects of low-dose asprin in elderly patients with multiple atherosclerotic risks. Journal of Hypertension, 37(6), 1301-1307.

Kim, G., Kim, J. H., Moon, K. W., Yoo, K. D., Kim, C. M., Moon, D., & Lee, S. N. (2016). The relationships between the arterial stiffness index measured at the radial artery and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in asymptomatic high risk patients without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. International Heart Journal, 15-225.