Hypertensive cardiovascular disease also known as hypertensive heart disease occurs

due to the complication of hypertension or high blood pressure. In this condition the workload of
the heart is increased manifold and with time this causes the heart muscles to thicken. The
heart continues pumping blood against this increased pressure and over a period of time the left
ventricle of the heart enlarges and this in turn causes the blood pumped by heart to reduce. If
proper treatment is not taken at this stage then symptoms of congestive heart failure may be
observed. 

High blood pressure or hypertension is among the top most factors associated with
cardiovascular diseases. This can result in ischemic heart disease.  High blood pressure is also
a contributing factor to the eventual thickening of walls of blood vessels. This increases the
possibility of heart attacks and strokes. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease is among the
leading killers in present times. Around 7 people out of every 1000 suffer from this disease.
Heredity is an important factor so far as people suffering from hypertension are concerned.
Other factors include excessive consumption of salt and excessive stress. 

Symptoms

It usually takes some time for the problem of high blood pressure to eventually lead to
hypertensive cardiovascular disease and therefore high blood pressure is often called the silent
killer. Eventually hypertensive heart disease can also lead to congestive heart failure. Some
symptoms of hypertension and the eventual congestive heart failure include arrhythmias,
shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue, swelling in lower extremities and greater frequency
of urination during the night. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease may also result in ischemic
heart condition and in this case there might be chest pain, sweating and dizziness, nausea and
shortness of breath. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy could also be a result of hypertensive heart
disease. 

Tests

Usually the first signal is elevated blood pressure together with a possibility of
enlargement of the heart. Fluid within the lungs may also be found in preliminary examination by
using the stethoscope and some abnormal heart sounds may also be detected. ECG is
ordinarily done and this may show abnormal results in those who have possible hypertensive
cardiovascular disease. Evidence of ischemia which is the lack of oxygen in the heart muscle
may also be detected. Some other tests ordinarily conducted may include a chest X ray, a CT
scan of the chest, echocardiogram and coronary angiogram. 

Treatment

The primary aim of any treatment in hypertensive cardiovascular disease is reduction of

blood pressure and then eventual control of the heart disease. The line of treatment will
ordinarily depend on the condition such as whether there is angina or acute myocardial
infarction. The line of treatment may include beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme
inhibitors (ACE), calcium channel blockers, diuretics etc depending upon particulars of each
individual case. The blood pressure is consistently required to be checked and kept under
control in this condition. 

Likewise people experiencing hypertensive cardiovascular disease have to make

certain changes in their lifestyle and diet patters. These would ordinarily include weight loss
where obesity is identified, moderate exercise as per directions of the medical professional and
adjustments in the diet. These adjustments would include inake of healthy food including
vegetables, fresh fruits and low fat dairy items. Smoking is also a contributing factor to
hypertension and therefore these lifestyle changes would have to include the patient quitting
smoking. Consumption of fish, whole grains are also recommended. In the long run the outcome
largely depends on the possibility and extent of complications. In hypertensive cardiovascular
disease the treatment will depend largely on the degree of enlargement of the left ventricle.
However some medicines such as ACE inhibitors and others can reverse this enlargement and
thereby help in improving the chances of survival in the patients in the long run.

Coronary artery disease (CAD or atherosclerotic heart disease) is the end result of the

accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries[1] that supply
the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) with oxygen and nutrients. It is sometimes also
called coronary heart disease (CHD), although CAD is the most common cause of CHD, it is not
the only one.

CAD is the leading cause of death worldwide.[2] While the symptoms and signs of coronary
artery disease are noted in the advanced state of disease, most individuals with coronary artery
disease show no evidence of disease for decades as the disease progresses before the first
onset of symptoms, often a "sudden" heart attack, finally arises. After decades of progression,
some of these atheromatous plaques may rupture and (along with the activation of the blood
clotting system) start limitingblood flow to the heart muscle. The disease is the most common
cause of sudden death,[3] and is also the most common reason for death of men and women
over 20 years of age.

CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and
narrowed. This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their
inner walls. This buildup is called atherosclerosis. As it grows, less blood can flow through the
arteries. As a result, the heart muscle can't get the blood or oxygen it needs. This can lead to
chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. Most heart attacks happen when a blood clot suddenly
cuts off the hearts' blood supply, causing permanent heart damage. Over time, CAD can also
weaken the heart muscle and contribute to heart failure andarrhythmias. Heart failure means the
heart can't pump blood well to the rest of the body. Arrhythmias are changes in the normal
beating rhythm of the heart.

As the degree of coronary artery disease progresses, there may be near-complete

obstruction of the lumen of the coronary artery, severely restricting the flow of oxygen-carrying
blood to the myocardium. Individuals with this degree of coronary artery disease typically have
suffered from one or more myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), and may have signs and
symptoms of chronic coronary ischemia, including symptoms of angina at rest and
flash pulmonary edema.

Also, Angina (chest pain) that occurs regularly with activity, after heavy meals, or at other
predictable times is termed stable angina and is associated with high grade narrowings of
the heart arteries. The symptoms of angina are often treated with betablocker therapy such as
metoprolol or atenolol. Nitrate preparations such as nitroglycerin, which come in short-acting
and long-acting forms are also effective in relieving symptoms but are not known to reduce the
chances of future heart attacks. Many other more effective treatments, especially of the
underlying atheromatous disease, have been developed.

Angina that changes in intensity, character or frequency is termed unstable. Unstable

angina may precede myocardial infarction, and requires urgent medical attention. It may be
treated with oxygen, intravenous nitroglycerin, and aspirin. Interventional procedures such
as angioplasty may be done.
On the other hand, diffuse iscehmia is Rather than hypoxia (a more general term denoting a
shortage of oxygen, usually a result of lack of oxygen in the air being breathed), ischemia is an
absolute or relative shortage of the blood supply to an organ, i.e. a shortage
of oxygen, glucose and other blood-borne fuels. A relative shortage means the mismatch of
blood supply (oxygen/fuel delivery) and blood request for adequate metabolism of tissue.
Ischemia results in tissue damage because of a lack of oxygen and nutrients [1]. Ultimately, this
can cause severe damage because of the potential for a build-up of metabolic wastes.

Ischemia can also be described as an inadequate flow of blood to a part of the body, caused by
constriction or blockage of the blood vessels supplying it. Ischemia of heart muscle
produces angina pectoris.

This can be due to

 Hypoglycemia (lower than normal level of glucose)

 Tachycardia (abnormally rapid beating of the heart)
 Atherosclerosis (lipid-laden plaques obstructing the lumen of arteries)
 Hypotension (low blood pressure, e.g. in septic shock, heart failure)
 Thromboembolism (blood clots)
 Outside compression of a blood vessel, e.g. by a tumor or in the case of Superior
mesenteric artery syndrome
 Embolism (foreign bodies in the circulation, e.g. amniotic fluid embolism)
 Sickle cell disease (abnormally shaped red blood cells)
 Induced g-forces which restrict the blood flow and force the blood to the extremities of
the body, as in acrobatics and military flying
 Localized extreme cold, such as by frostbite, ice, or improper Cold compression therapy
 Tourniquet application
 An increased level of glutamate receptor stimulation
 arteriovenous malformations, and peripheral artery occlusive disease.

The heart, the kidneys, and the brain are among the organs that are the most quickly damaged
by loss of blood flow for any period of time.