Beyond The Basics: What Is Hypertensive Heart Disease And Top 3 Remedies?

Hypertensive heart disease occurs when you have unchecked high blood pressure for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to get a routine blood pressure check-up. Lifestyle changes can make your heart healthier, too.

What you need to know:

What is hypertensive heart disease?
Types of hypertensive heart disease
Causes and risk factors of hypertensive heart disease
What are the symptoms of hypertensive heart disease?
Treatment options for hypertensive heart disease

What is hypertensive heart disease?

Hypertensive heart disease is a condition that arises over an extended period in individuals with persistent high blood pressure. This term encompasses a range of cardiovascular health concerns, including issues like heart failure, strokes and irregular heart rhythms.

Consistent readings above 120/80 mmHg indicate chronic high blood pressure, which is a leading contributor to hypertensive heart disease. As age progresses, particularly past 65, the likelihood of heart complications, especially heart failure, grows in those with sustained high blood pressure.

High blood pressure and cholesterol can cause plaque buildup in the blood vessel walls, which become narrower. This can lead to the weakening of the heart muscle, setting the stage for potential heart failure or arrhythmia.

Types of hypertensive heart disease

The elevation in blood pressure stresses the heart, making it challenging for it to circulate blood efficiently. This can lead to complications like:

Coronary artery disease affects the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
In left ventricular hypertrophy, the walls of the left ventricle, the heart’s main chamber, get dense, hindering the blood flow to the aorta and, hence, throughout the body.

Causes and risk factors of hypertensive heart disease

The main risk factor for hypertensive heart disease is high blood pressure. The following factors can also elevate the risk:

Being overweight
Insufficient physical activity
Smoking habits
Consuming an unhealthy diet with excess fats and cholesterol
A family history of heart disease

What are the symptoms of hypertensive heart disease?

Hypertensive heart disease’s symptoms often depend on its intensity and stage. Some might not feel any symptoms at all, while others might encounter:

A sensation of constriction within the chest or chest pain (angina)
Tiredness
Discomfort in areas like the neck, back, arms, or shoulders
A constant cough
Reduced desire to eat
Difficulty breathing
Swelling in legs

Treatment options for hypertensive heart disease

Management of hypertensive heart disease depends on the severity of the condition, your age, and your past medical records.

Medications
Your doctor might prescribe medications for managing high blood pressure, including:
Potassium supplements
Water pills (Diuretics)
ACE suppressors
Beta antagonists

Lifestyle changes

Certain lifestyle changes like exercising daily or practising yoga and pilates, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet can decrease the risk of hypertensive heart disease. Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, processed, refined, oily, and fried junk food to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Surgical interventions

For advanced hypertensive heart disease, surgical interventions are required to improve blood circulation to your heart. Your physician may recommend inserting a pacemaker into your chest, a device that sends electrical pulses prompting the heart muscles to contract. There are also other surgical options, including:

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) – devices designed to address and rectify severe cardiac rhythm disturbances.
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) – reserved for extreme cases of coronary heart disease. For severe cases, measures such as a heart transplant or other cardiac support devices might become essential.

High blood pressure can often go unnoticed. Ensure you get regular check-ups done and monitor your blood pressure. You can check your blood pressure on our Online Blood Pressure Calculator.

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