Hypertension
Vicki is a 42-year-old African American woman who was diagnosed with Hypertension a month ago. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for the past 20 years. She is self-employed and runs a successful insurance agency. Her work requires frequent travel and Vicki often has to eat at fast food restaurants for most of her meals. A poor diet that is high in salt and fat and low in nutrients for the body is a contributing factor of Vicki’s diagnoses of hypertension. This paper will discuss the pathogenesis of hypertension, normal functioning of the circulatory system, the signs and symptoms of the disease, and the effects of hypertension on the rest of the body.
Definition of HTN-Hypertension
Hypertension is also known as …show more content…
The circulatory system consists of four components: the heart, arteries, veins, and blood. This system is a body-wide network, all powered by the heart, it is the body’s distribution system to organs with oxygen, hormones and essential nutrients that help the body function properly (healthline.com). The constant pressure from the heart and valves ensure that the veins carry blood to the heart while the arteries transports blood away from the heart. Healthy arteries are flexible and resilient, their inner lining is smooth so that blood flows efficiently. Hypertension causes severe damage to the arteries and heart. High blood pressure causes the force of the blood to be too high, therefore, causing tears in the artery walls that then turn into scar tissue. This scar tissue provides a lodging place for particles of fat, cholesterol, and other substances, called plaque (heart.org). As this plaque builds up, the arteries start to become narrow and harden, making the heart work harder to get the blood throughout the body. As stated previously, blood vessels harden as a person gets …show more content…
The damage on the artery walls caused by high blood pressure eventually makes the arteries to harden. This can effect arteries throughout the body, eventually blocking the blood flow to any body part. Over time, part of a blood vessel will swell where it is damaged or weakened and forms a bulge this is known as an Aneurysm. Aneurysms can form in any artery throughout the body, but they're most common in the aorta, the body's largest artery (mayoclinic.org). Coronary artery disease, narrowed arteries, affect the heart because the arteries are restricted and don’t allow blood from the heart to flow smoothly. When blood doesn’t flow freely to the heart people will experience chest pain, heart attacks, or irregular heart rhythms. High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and over time the heart muscle will weaken and eventually stop. The brain counts on the arteries to supply it with nourishing blood that it needs to function properly. When arteries leading up to the brain are damaged or there is a clot this prevents the brain receiving what it needs. This could cause transient ischemic attack, a stroke, and even dementia. The eyes’ blood vessels can also be damaged from high blood pressure. This can lead to bleeding in the eye, blurred vision, and vision loss. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels that are leading to the kidneys and
Vicki is a 42-year-old African American woman who was diagnosed with Hypertension a month ago. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for the past 20 years. She is self-employed and runs a successful insurance agency. Her work requires frequent travel and Vicki often has to eat at fast food restaurants for most of her meals. A poor diet that is high in salt and fat and low in nutrients for the body is a contributing factor of Vicki’s diagnoses of hypertension. This paper will discuss the pathogenesis of hypertension, normal functioning of the circulatory system, the signs and symptoms of the disease, and the effects of hypertension on the rest of the body.
Definition of HTN-Hypertension
Hypertension is also known as …show more content…
The circulatory system consists of four components: the heart, arteries, veins, and blood. This system is a body-wide network, all powered by the heart, it is the body’s distribution system to organs with oxygen, hormones and essential nutrients that help the body function properly (healthline.com). The constant pressure from the heart and valves ensure that the veins carry blood to the heart while the arteries transports blood away from the heart. Healthy arteries are flexible and resilient, their inner lining is smooth so that blood flows efficiently. Hypertension causes severe damage to the arteries and heart. High blood pressure causes the force of the blood to be too high, therefore, causing tears in the artery walls that then turn into scar tissue. This scar tissue provides a lodging place for particles of fat, cholesterol, and other substances, called plaque (heart.org). As this plaque builds up, the arteries start to become narrow and harden, making the heart work harder to get the blood throughout the body. As stated previously, blood vessels harden as a person gets …show more content…
The damage on the artery walls caused by high blood pressure eventually makes the arteries to harden. This can effect arteries throughout the body, eventually blocking the blood flow to any body part. Over time, part of a blood vessel will swell where it is damaged or weakened and forms a bulge this is known as an Aneurysm. Aneurysms can form in any artery throughout the body, but they're most common in the aorta, the body's largest artery (mayoclinic.org). Coronary artery disease, narrowed arteries, affect the heart because the arteries are restricted and don’t allow blood from the heart to flow smoothly. When blood doesn’t flow freely to the heart people will experience chest pain, heart attacks, or irregular heart rhythms. High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and over time the heart muscle will weaken and eventually stop. The brain counts on the arteries to supply it with nourishing blood that it needs to function properly. When arteries leading up to the brain are damaged or there is a clot this prevents the brain receiving what it needs. This could cause transient ischemic attack, a stroke, and even dementia. The eyes’ blood vessels can also be damaged from high blood pressure. This can lead to bleeding in the eye, blurred vision, and vision loss. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels that are leading to the kidneys and