The cardiovascular system is tasked with transporting oxygenated blood throughout the human body. When arteries are healthy, they stretch slightly as the heart pumps blood into them. The inner lining is usually smooth, allowing free flow of blood. This process supplies oxygen and nutrients to various body tissues and organs. However, very high blood pressure damages the arteries. This is because the extremely high pressure overstretches them. These minor injuries accumulate over time, forming a scar tissue on the wall of the artery. As a result, the arteries of people with chronic high blood pressure are stiff and noncompliant as a result of atherosclerosis ( van Leeuwen et al., 2003) . The fats in the flowing blood collect in the damaged arteries, leading in stiffness and hence limiting the flow of blood. As damaged arteries are exposed to more extreme pressures, sections of their walls form lumps, an enlargement that is known an aneurysm . An aneurysm can rupture resulting in internal bleeding, which is a threat to the life of the affected individual (Pietrangelo, 2014).
Chronic blood pressure, on the other hand, causes coronary artery disease. This is a state that limits the supply of blood to the heart. The affected person experiences chest pains and irregular heart rhythms when blood does not flow freely to the heart. Further, chronic blood pressure overworks the heart beyond its standard level as it tries to pump blood to all body tissues. This results in the thickening and stiffening of the left ventricle, a condition known as left ventricle hypertrophy. When these changes occur, the ability of the ventricle to perform is limited. As a result, it cannot pump blood to all body tissues. The blood gets trapped in the arteries, eventually clotting. Consequently, the clotted blood narrows or blocks the blood vessels. This condition increases risks of heart failure and heart attack (Pietrangelo, 2014). Therefore, chronic blood pressure results in life-threatening conditions which may cause early death in individuals. Moreover, such diseases as arrhythmias, aneurysm, and coronary artery disease develop as a result of chronic blood pressure.
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References
Pietrangelo , A. (2014). The s ide e ffects of h igh b lood p ressure on the b ody . Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/effect-on-body
van Leeuwen, R., Ikram, M. K., Vingerling, J. R., Witteman, J. C., Hofman, A., & de Jong, P. T. (2003). Blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and the incidence of age-related maculopathy: the Rotterdam Study. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science , 44 (9), 3771-3777.
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