Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
07:25
Assessing Murine Resistance Artery Function Using Pressure Myography
Published on: June 7, 2013
[Blood pressure components and target organ damage]
G Schillaci1, G Reboldi, G Vaudo
1Sezione di Medicina Interna, Angiologia e Malattie da Arteriosclerosi, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Università degli Studi, Perugia. skill@unipg.it
Summary
Essential hypertension leads to target organ damage. Steady blood pressure components drive cardiac changes, while pulsatile pressure (pulse pressure) is key for arterial damage, especially in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hypertension Research
- Target Organ Damage
Context:
- Hypertension is often preceded by subclinical target organ damage (pre-clinical cardiovascular disease).
- This damage significantly increases the risk of future cardiovascular events.
- Understanding the role of different blood pressure components is crucial for risk stratification.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between blood pressure components and target organ damage in essential hypertension.
- To differentiate the roles of steady (mean arterial pressure) and pulsatile (pulse pressure) components.
Summary:
- Both steady and pulsatile blood pressure components correlate with left ventricular mass, with steady components showing a stronger association.
- Pulse pressure is a better predictor of large-artery intima-media thickening and atherosclerotic plaques, particularly in the elderly.
- The relationship between diastolic blood pressure and arterial changes is J-shaped after age 60, but linear in younger individuals.
Impact:
- Highlights the distinct roles of steady and pulsatile blood pressure in cardiovascular and arterial damage.
- Suggests pulse pressure's superior prognostic value in the elderly for arterial changes.
- Provides insights into the mechanisms underlying hypertensive target organ damage.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
01:18Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
01:29Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
01:28Hypertension I: Introduction
Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...
01:30Blood Pressure
Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure or force of blood exerted on the artery's walls as it circulates through the body. It is essential for maintaining blood flow throughout the body.
The average BP in an adult is typically around 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In this measurement, the numerator (120) indicates the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart's ventricles as blood is expelled. The denominator (80) represents the diastolic...
The average BP in an adult is typically around 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In this measurement, the numerator (120) indicates the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart's ventricles as blood is expelled. The denominator (80) represents the diastolic...
01:24Blood Pressure
The movement of blood in a human body, commonly referred to as blood flow, is determined by the volume of blood that traverses a certain section of the bodily system per unit time. It is the rhythmic contraction of the heart's ventricles that primarily instigates this movement. As the ventricles contract, blood is forced into the prominent arteries, which then flow from areas of greater pressure to lower pressure areas. This movement continues into smaller arteries and arterioles and...