Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 insufficient vitamin D in the body. It affects the enzyme produced by the kidney, which has the potential to cause high blood pressure. Stress is another factor that has the ability to cause temporary high blood pressure. Other risk factors include kidney disorders, diabetes, and sleep apnea. Classification Hypertension can be classified as primary or secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension has no certain cause and is developed over many years. Some associated causes for primary hypertension include genetic defects, obesity, poor diet habits, and inadequate exercise. In contrast, secondary hypertension is caused due to some underlying medical reason. Such a hypertension is developed suddenly and causes the pressure in the blood to rise. Reasons for secondary hypertension include kidney ailments, obstructive sleep apnea, adrenal gland tumors, thyroid problems, congenital defects in blood vessels, and medicines like birth control pills, decongestants, pain killers, cold remedies. Alcohol abuse and illegal drugs, like cocaine, also cause hypertension. End Organ Effects Hypertension, if not controlled, can result in fatal consequences without ever showing any symptoms. It can lead to life-threatening complications. High blood pressure can cause damage to the arteries, heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. It can lead to damage and narrowing of the arteries by attacking the cells of the inner lining, leading to arteriosclerosis. When the blood moves in weak arteries, the walls can enlarge and form a bulge, causing aneurysm. This disease can further cause internal bleeding, which has the potential to cause death. Uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to coronary artery disease. It leads to the disease called left ventricular hypertrophy, in which the left ventricle of the heart gets thick and stiff as the workload to the heart increases. Hypertension also weakens the heart muscles and causes heart failure. Blood pressure may disrupt blood supply to the brain and can lead to a mini stroke called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). In some cases, when the nutrient and oxygen rich blood does not reach the brain, the cells begin to die and cause a stroke. This happens as the inadequate supply narrows, ruptures, or leaks the blood vessels in the brain. When the arteries get blocked or narrowed, it can cause dementia and the person suffers from impaired thinking, reasoning, and memory, in addition to vision and movement problems. In extreme cases, the person may suffer from mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease. Hypertension is a major cause of kidney failure, kidney scarring, and kidney artery aneurysm. Further, damage to the eyes, like damaging the eye blood vessels, accumulating fluid under the retina, and damaging the eye nerve, are also caused by hypertension. Other complications associated with hypertension include sexual dysfunction in both men (erectile dysfunction) and women (fall in sexual desire, vaginally dryness, or difficulty to achieve orgasm), osteoporosis, and obstructive sleep apnea. Achieve Page 57