Hypertension: Hypertensive Heart Disease

Hypertensive heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death associated with hypertension and is actually a
group of disorders that include heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy
(excessive thickening of the heart muscle).

What Is Heart Failure?

Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that the heart's pumping
power is weaker than normal or the heart has become less elastic. With heart failure, blood moves
through the heart and body less effectively and pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart
cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The chambers of the heart
respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body. This helps to keep the blood
moving, but in time, the heart muscle walls weaken and are unable to pump as strongly. As a result,
the kidneys often respond by causing the body to retain fluid (water) and sodium. If fluid builds up in
the arms, legs, ankles, feet, lungs, or other organs, the body becomes congested, and congestive
heart failure is the term used to describe the condition.

Hypertension brings on heart failure by causing coronary artery disease and left ventricular
hypertophy. Symptoms of heart failure include:

• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the feet, ankles, or abdomen
• Difficulty sleeping flat in bed
• Bloating
• Irregular pulse
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Greater need to urinate at night

What Is Ischemic Heart Disease?

Hypertension can also cause ischemic heart disease. This means that the heart muscle isn't getting
enough blood. Ischemic heart disease is usually the result of atherosclerosis or hardening of the
arteries (coronary artery disease), which impedes the blood flow. This can progress to a heart attack.
Symptoms of ischemic heart disease may include:

• Chest pain which may radiate (travel) to the arms, back, neck, or jaw
• Chest pain with nausea, sweating, shortness of breath, and dizziness; these associated
symptoms may also occur without chest pain
• Irregular pulse
• Fatigue and weakness

Any of these symptoms warrant immediate medical evaluation.

 What Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the muscular walls of the heart are thickened.
This can prevent the heart valves from functioning normally or may keep blood from flowing out of the
heart. It usually occurs independently of high blood pressure.

Symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may include:

• Chest pain
• Irregular pulse
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue, weakness
• Fainting

Learn more about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

How Is Hypertensive Heart Disease Diagnosed?

Your doctor will look for certain signs, including:

• High blood pressure

• Enlarged heart and irregular heartbeat
• Fluid in the lungs or lower extremities
• Unusual heart sounds

Your doctor may perform tests to determine if you have hypertensive heart disease, including a
electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, cardiac stress test, chest X-ray, and coronary angiogram.
How Is Hypertensive Heart Disease Treated?
In order to treat hypertensive heart disease, your doctor has to treat the hypertension that is causing it. He or
she will treat it with a variety of medications, including diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel
blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and vasodilators.
In addition, your doctor may advise you to make changes to your lifestyle, including:

• Diet: If heart failure is present, lowering the total amount of sodium to 2,000 mg or 2 g or less per day;
eating foods high in fiber and potassium; limiting total daily calories to lose weight if necessary; and limiting
foods that contain refined sugar, saturated fats, and cholesterol.
• Monitoring your weight: This involves daily recording of weight; increasing your activity level (as
recommended by your doctor); resting between activities more often; planning your activities.
• Avoiding tobacco products and alcohol
• Regular medical checkups: During follow-up visits, your doctor will make sure you are staying healthy
and that your heart disease is not getting worse.

In some cases, you may need surgery to correct the heart disease. Surgeries include coronary bypass grafting
(to bypass clogged heart arteries), mitral valve repair (to repair a leaky valve caused by cardiomyopathy or
ischemia), vascular surgeries (to repair defects of the blood vessels), and implantation of a left ventricular
assist device (to improve pumping if you have heart failure as a bridge to heart transplantation).

Overview & Facts

Hypertension puts you at higher risk for heart disease -- a leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn about
hypertension causes, your risks, and prevention.

What Is Hypertension?
Get the basics of blood pressure: Learn what normal blood pressure is, what causes hypertension, who's at
risk, and more.
Your Heart: The Inner Workings
How does your heart beat? How does your blood flow? See what your heart looks like, learn how it works, and
more.
Related Web Site: 8 Common Misconceptions About Hypertension
Here are eight quick facts you might not know about high blood pressure.
Tool: How Much Do You Know About High Blood Pressure?
Learn what you do and don't know about high blood pressure with this quiz.
Understanding Low Blood Pressure
Too much high blood pressure medication is one of the causes of low blood pressure. Get the basics on low
blood pressure, from its causes to who's at greater risk.

Causes
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Specific causes for hypertension are unknown, but certain factors are known to contribute to high blood
pressure. Get an overview of these factors and learn how you might be able to reduce your risk.
Medications: Are They Raising Your Blood Pressure?
Certain medications may cause hypertension. Check the list of medications here. Is yours on the list?
Secondary Hypertension: The Causes
In about 5% to 10% of people, high blood pressure is caused by another condition, such as chronic kidney
disease, pregnancy, and more. Learn which conditions increase your risk of secondary hypertension and how
you might be able to reduce that risk.
White-Coat Syndrome: Is the Doctor's Office Raising Your Blood Pressure?
Could visits to the doctor be causing that spike in your blood pressure? Learn what "white-coat syndrome" is,
and get one expert's feedback on what to do if the syndrome happens to you.

Are You at Risk?

High Blood Pressure Risk Factors
The exact cause of hypertension is unknown, but there are several factors and conditions that may contribute to
its occurrence. Learn about high blood pressure risk factors here.
Men and Hypertension: Are Young Men at Risk?
High blood pressure is more common in younger men than most believe. Find out why the condition should be
taken just as seriously as in their older counterparts.
Video: "Salt Hormone": New Clue to High Blood Pressure Risk
Robin Adkins is taking part in a new study designed to learn more about the "salt hormone" aldosterone and the
genetic connection between hypertension and blacks. Learn if new therapies can block the effects of this
hormone.
Related Web Site: High Blood Pressure in Children
Today's overweight first-grader is likely to have high blood pressure before finishing high school, according to
heart researchers. What can be done to stem this tide? This link will take you to the American Heart
Association's web site.

Prevention
A Brief Look at How to Prevent High Blood Pressure
Here's a short, quick look at easy lifestyle changes you can make to help keep your blood pressure at a healthy
level and reduce your risk of heart disease.
High Blood Pressure Prevention: An In-depth View
About one in every four American adults has high blood pressure -- also know as hypertension. Learn the
simple steps you can take, from maintaining a healthy weight to the dietary supplements that may help.

Related Web Site: Stay Healthy: Know Your Blood Pressure Numbers
What is normal blood pressure? Keeping blood pressure numbers in a healthy range can go a long way toward
preventing the No. 1 killer -- heart disease. Find out what's healthy -- and what's risky.

Symptoms & Types

Are there hypertension symptoms? What are the complications of high blood pressure? Learn about
hypertension, its symptoms, complications, and types.

Symptoms
Health Check: How Well Are You Managing Your Hypertension?
How well are you managing your hypertension? Get your WebMD Hypertension Score.
Are There High Blood Pressure Symptoms?
One of the most dangerous aspects of hypertension is that you may not know that you have it. Nearly one-third
of people who have hypertension don't know it. There are signs of extremely high blood pressure: Learn the
signs to watch for.

Warning Signs
Hypertensive Crisis
In most cases, there are no clear warning signs of high blood pressure, but blood pressure can become
dangerously high and threaten your organs and your life.
High Blood Pressure: When to Call Your Doctor
Regular visits to your doctor can help you manage hypertension. However, there may be situations that warrant
a call to your doctor between visits. Learn what to watch for and when it's time to pick up the phone.

Types
What Is Secondary Hypertension?
Unlike hypertension, the less common secondary hypertension is the result of another condition or disorder,
such as kidney disease or sleep apnea. Learn which other conditions put you at risk, and how the condition is
diagnosed and treated.
Prehypertension: The New Disorder of 'Healthy' Adults
Nearly a quarter of American adults are said to have a new disorder: prehypertension. Find out what that is.
Complications
High Blood Pressure and Atherosclerosis
One of the most serious health problems related to untreated high blood pressure, atherosclerosis contributes
to coronary artery disease. Learn about symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment of atherosclerosis.
Stroke and Hypertension
A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area in the brain is cut off and people who have hypertension are four to
six times more likely to have a stroke. Stay safe: Learn your risk factors and the warning signs of stroke and
what to do in a stroke emergency.
Hypertension and Heart Disease
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death associated with hypertension. Learn more about related heart
conditions, their diagnoses, and treatment.
Kidney Disease and Hypertension
Hypertension is a major cause of kidney disease and kidney failure. There are symptoms to watch for -- and
treatment options. Learn more.
High Blood Pressure and Eye Disease
Untreated hypertension can affect your eyesight, causing damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Known as
hypertensive retinopathy, learn more about this condition and its prevention.
High Blood Pressure and Diabetes
Hypertension is a risk factor for the development and worsening of many diabetes complications, and likewise
having diabetes increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. Learn more about how these two
conditions affect one another.
Preeclampsia: High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy
High blood pressure can be a sign of preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related problem that can become life-
threatening. Learn what you need to know.
Related Guide: Metabolic Syndrome and High Blood Pressure
Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems which include too much fat around the waist, elevated blood
pressure, elevated blood sugar, and more -- all increasing your risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Find
out more about metabolic syndrome here.
Tool: High Blood Pressure and Sex: What You Need to Know
High blood pressure can affect many aspects of your health, including your sex life. Is it affecting yours? Find
out with this quiz.
High Blood Pressure and Erectile Dysfunction
High blood pressure by itself can lead to erectile dysfunction. But some drugs for treating high blood pressure
can actually be the cause as well. Find out more about why high blood pressure is a major cause of erection
problems.

Diagnosis & Tests

Diagnosing hypertension is important. Learn how doctors test for high blood pressure and even see a photo of
how the test is done.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is often called a "silent disease" because you usually don't know you have it; there may be
no outward symptoms or signs, so monitoring your blood pressure is critical.

Tests
Tests for High Blood Pressure
The only way to tell whether you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure measured with a
blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer). Learn just what that entails, what your results mean, and other tests
your doctor may perform.
How Is Blood Pressure Measured?
Want to know how blood pressure is measured and what a blood pressure cuff looks like? Click on the photo in
this article and you'll have an idea what to expect when you get your blood pressure taken.

Treatment & Care

Treating high blood pressure can take a multi-pronged approach including diet changes, medication, and
exercise. Learn about hypertension treatment options here.

Treatment
Hypertension Treatment: Know Your Options
Treatment for hypertension comes in many forms -- from lifestyle changes to medication. Learn more from this
overview about how to lower blood pressure here.
Smoking and High Blood Pressure: Kick the Habit -- for Your Heart
Did you know that people who smoke are more likely to develop hypertension and heart disease? Learn more
and get tips on quitting -- and avoiding a relapse.
Blood Pressure and Exercise: A Little Lowers a Lot
You don't need to hike miles or work up a daily sweat to lower blood pressure with exercise. Discover how easy
it is to get started with these exercise tips.
The DASH Diet and Hypertension
One of the simplest and most effective ways to lower blood pressure is to eat a healthy diet.
Handling Hypertension and Stress
Left unmanaged, stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems, including coronary
artery disease and high blood pressure. Get tips on the warning signs of dangerous stress and learn how to
reduce it, while boosting a positive outlook.
Medications to Treat Hypertension
Learn about different medications used to treat Hypertension here.
Video: New 'Pacemaker' Could Help High Blood Pressure
Runaway hypertension plagued 37-year-old Annette Lawrence. Then she became the first person to test an
implant to control high blood pressure, an implant that now helps her live a normal, active life. Find out more.
Complementary and Alternative Treatment for Hypertension
There are many types of complementary and alternative treatments believed to be effective for treating
hypertension. Get the facts on your options.
Meditation: A Natural Aid for High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure treatment isn't limited to drugs. Find out why natural blood pressure treatments such as
meditation can have a significant effect.
Can a 'Pet' Prescription Lower Your Blood Pressure?
Owning a pet can ward off depression, lower blood pressure, and boost immunity. Is pet therapy right for you?

Care
Follow-up Care for High Blood Pressure
The most important element in managing high blood pressure is follow-up care. Here are six tips to keep in
mind about follow-up care.
Hypertension Management: In-Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Monitoring your own blood pressure is a good way to keep on top of hypertension. Get tips on how to prepare,
and step-by-step instructions for taking your own blood pressure readings.
High Blood Pressure Medication Guidelines: What You Want to Know
If your doctor has prescribed medication to lower your blood pressure, here are twelve things to keep in mind
about your treatment protocol.

Common Treatments for Hypertension/High Blood Pressure

Drugs and Treatments

ATENOLOL
This medication is a beta-blocker used to treat chest pain (angina) and high blood pressure. It is also
used after an acute heart attack to improve survival. High blood pressure reduction helps prevent
strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems.
This drug works by blocking the action of certain natural chemicals in your body such as epinephrine
on the heart and blood vessels. This results in a lowering of the heart rate, blood pressure, and strain
on the heart.
OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional
labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a
condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
This medication may also be used for irregular heartbeats, heart failure, migraine headache
prevention, tremors and other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How to use Atenolol Oral

Take this medication by mouth, usually once daily; or as directed by your doctor. Use this medication
regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time each
day.
This drug is not effective if you use it only when chest pain or a migraine headache occurs. It is very
important to take this medication regularly as prescribed to help prevent these conditions.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. It may take one or two
weeks before the full benefit of this drug takes effect. It is important to continue taking this medication
even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick.
Do not suddenly stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Your condition may
become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped. Refer to the Warning section.
 Drugs and Treatments
• Atenolol
• Ativan
• Cymbalta
• Effexor
• Hydrocodone
• Lexapro
• Lipitor
• Lisinopril
• Lyrica
• Mobic
• Naproxen
• Neurontin
• Norvasc
• Oxycodone
• Paxil
• Prednisone
• Percocet
• Prozac
• Seroquel
• TOPAMAX
• Tramadol
• Vicodin
• Wellbutrin
• Xanax
• Zoloft