Essential Hypertension Overview

A disease affecting the blood vessels due to high blood pressure.

A gradual increase in blood pressure that happens as we age, and its cause isn't fully understood.

A condition where the heart pumps blood with more force, making the heart walls thicker.

A type of stroke caused by many small blood clots blocking blood flow to the brain.

A condition where the heart struggles to pump blood effectively, leading to fluid buildup.

The formation of a tear in the wall of the aorta, the body's main artery.

A condition where the body is unable to filter waste products from the blood efficiently.

A condition where the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, leading to brain damage.

A buildup of fatty deposits, primarily cholesterol and cholesterol esters, within the walls of arteries, leading to narrowing and hardening of the blood vessels.

A condition where blood pressure is constantly elevated, placing stress on the heart and blood vessels.

An abnormal elevation of cholesterol levels in the blood, contributing to atherosclerosis.

Impaired blood flow to the limbs, often due to atherosclerosis, leading to pain, numbness, and potential tissue damage.

A condition where the kidney's ability to remove sodium from the body is reduced, leading to water retention and increased blood pressure.

A chronic narrowing of blood vessels, primarily arterioles (tiny arteries), which increases resistance to blood flow and raises blood pressure.

A type of high blood pressure caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys.

A condition where the narrowing of the renal arteries leads to excessive renin production, causing high blood pressure.

Changes in the aorta and other large arteries due to hypertension. This can include weakening of the artery wall or even a tear (aortic dissection).

A condition characterized by thickening of the walls of small arteries, typically seen with severe hypertension.

A condition characterized by narrowing of the walls of small arteries with 'onion-like' layers, seen with malignant hypertension.

A type of lipid-filled macrophage found in the early stages of atherosclerosis, contributing to fatty streaks.

Minimally raised lesions in the wall of blood vessels, primarily composed of lipid-filled foamy macrophages.

A thickening of the intimal layer of a blood vessel, characterized by lipid accumulation and fibrous cap formation.

The process of atherosclerotic plaques enlarging and impeding blood flow, causing narrowing of the blood vessel lumen.

A type of vascular disease affecting small arteries, especially common in people with diabetes or high blood pressure. It causes thickening of the vessel walls and a decrease in blood supply to affected organs.

Hyaline arteriolosclerosis is characterized by homogeneous, pink hyaline thickening of arteriolar walls, with loss of underlying structural detail and luminal narrowing, thus decreasing blood supply to the affected organs.

A type of vascular disease affecting small arteries. It is characterized by concentric, laminated thickening of arteriolar walls, leading to 'onion skin' appearance and luminal narrowing. It can be seen in elderly normotensives and is a possible cause of renal failure.

A type of vascular disease affecting large and medium-sized arteries. A build-up of plaque within the vessel wall can lead to narrowed blood flow, rupture and blood clot formation, and even aneurysms.

Atheromatous plaques are raised lesions (usually yellow in color) composed of soft friable lipid cores (mainly cholesterol and cholesterol esters, with necrotic debris) covered by fibrous caps. They are associated with the pathogenesis of coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vascular disease.

Atherosclerosis can cause narrowed blood flow (stenosis), rupture and blood clot formation (thrombosis), and even weakening of the vessel wall leading to aneurysms (ballooning of the vessel).

Atheromatous plaques are composed of cholesterol and cholesterol esters, along with necrotic debris and covered by fibrous caps. They impede blood flow, can rupture and cause thrombosis, and can weaken the underlying media leading to aneurysms.

Hyaline arteriolosclerosis is characterized by a glassy, pink layer in the vessel wall, while hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis shows a layered appearance like an onion. Both can cause narrowing of the vessel lumen.

The most common location for atherosclerotic lesions is the infrarenal abdominal aorta, followed by the coronary arteries, popliteal arteries, internal carotid arteries, and the vessels of the circle of Willis.

A dangerous complication of atherosclerotic plaques where the plaque ruptures, exposing thrombogenic substances. This can lead to thrombus formation, blocking blood flow.

A clinical syndrome caused by complete blockage of a blood vessel, often due to plaque rupture and thrombus formation.

Upper extremities and mesenteric/renal arteries are usually spared from atherosclerosis, except at their ostia (openings from the aorta).

The openings of blood vessels as they emerge from the aorta.