HYPERTENSION: CAUSE OF PRIMARY HYPERTENSION & GENERAL
EFFECTS
How does HYPERTENSION affect the brain?
High BP leads to micro aneurysms that may rupture; therefore, leading to increased
risk of a haemorrhagic stroke.
Plaque build up may embolise (block vessel) or cause thrombosis.
Haemorrhagic stroke is due to a rupture in a vessel leading to leakage of blood into
brain tissue.
Ischaemic Stroke is when a part of the brain is blocked of blood flow due to a blood
clot.
Stroke is simply poor blood flow to the brain; therefore, leading to cell death.
How does HYPERTENSION affect Aortic and Pulmonary Vasculature?
High BP can lead to an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (Triple A).
Have a weak vessel due to the high pressure which can increase risk of rupturing.
Also can get an Aortic Dissection where blood is pushed into cavities and layers
where it isn’t mean to be; therefore, reducing supply to other organs/tissue.
How does HYPERTENSION affect the Kidney?
High BP results in a higher risk of chronic renal failure due to leakage of protein into
urine (proteinuria).
Also have an increased risk of nephrosclerosis (hardening of wall of all kidney
vasculature).
PRIMARY HYPERTENSION
In essential primary hypertension you have a high Total Peripheral Resistance due to
hypertrophy of tunica media. Longer term consequence of primary hypertension is that the
baroreceptor reflex is set at a higher set point; therefore, will accept a higher BP as normal.
Causative Theories of Primary Hypertension:
1. Stress
Can induce hypertrophy of tunica media (reversible).
2. Salt Imbalance
Increase in BP usually stimulates an increase in Na+ and water excretion until
the pressure normalizes.
But this doesn’t always happen; therefore, they may by hypertensive.
3. Endothelial Dysfunction
Low levels of NO and an increase in metabolites with vasoconstrictive
properties being produced (endothelin-1).
4. Reduced activity of Sodium pump
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