Question

Write a short note on the following

a. Hypertension

b. Coronary Artery Disease

Answer 1

Description of Hypertension

• Hypertension is a term for blood pressure that is higher than normal.
• A blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal. In this measurement, 120 mm Hg (millimetres of mercury) is the systolic, or pumping pressure and 80 mm Hg is the diastolic, or resting, pressure.
• If repeated checks of blood pressure of an individual is 140/90 or higher, it shows hypertension which leads to heart diseases and also affects vital organs like the brain and kidney.

Causative factors of Hypertension:

• Generally, a diet full of extremely oily and greasy products is known to increase the cholesterol level, causing thickening of the arteries which results in high blood pressure.
• Tobacco smoking speeds up the heart rate, contracts blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
• Kidney disorders may also cause hypertension.

Coronary Artery Disease

• Coronary artery disease is often referred to as atherosclerosis.
• It refers to the deposition of fatty substances especially cholesterol and triglycerides in the tunica interna and smooth muscles of medium-sized and large arteries.
• Such depositions are called atherosclerotic or atheromatous plaque which deforms the arterial wall.
• Gradually these plaques grow. This results in the narrowing of the lumen and the flow of the blood is reduced. In extreme cases, these plaques may block the artery completely.
• If such plaques are formed in the coronary arteries the latter reduces the blood supply to the heart or may stop the blood supply due to complete blockage of the coronary arteries.
• This may result in a heart attack or stroke.