Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Quantifying Acute Changes in Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Response to Central Nervous System Manipulations in Anesthetized Rats
Published on: September 11, 2018
High Heart Rate, Sympathetic Overdrive, and Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertension
Guido Grassi1, C Venkata S Ram2, Paolo Palatini3
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
Insights
Elevated resting heart rate in hypertension signifies sympathetic overactivity, leading to organ damage and increased cardiovascular events. Managing heart rate is crucial for better hypertension outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Clinical Practice
Background:
- Elevated resting heart rate (RHR) is common in essential hypertension.
- RHR > 80 bpm indicates sympathetic overactivity, linked to poor cardiovascular outcomes.
- This overactivity contributes to hypertension-mediated organ damage and increased mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathophysiology of elevated RHR in hypertension.
- To examine the clinical impact of elevated RHR as a cardiovascular risk factor.
- To discuss therapeutic strategies for managing elevated RHR in hypertensive patients.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review.
- Analysis of pathophysiological mechanisms.
- Evaluation of clinical studies and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Elevated RHR is associated with cardiac hypertrophy, endothelial dysfunction, and renal damage.
- Higher RHR independently predicts myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke.
- Increased cardiovascular mortality is linked to elevated RHR in hypertensive individuals.
Conclusions:
- Elevated RHR is an independent cardiovascular risk factor in hypertension.
- Sympathetic overactivity underlies the adverse effects of high RHR.
- Therapeutic targeting of RHR may improve cardiovascular outcomes in hypertension.
Abstract:
Elevated resting heart rate values accompanying essential hypertension are frequently detected in current clinical practice. Evidence shows that a heart rate greater than 80 beats/minute is triggered by pronounced sympathetic overactivity with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. These include the development and progression of hypertension-mediated organ damage, such as cardiac hypertrophy, endothelial dysfunction, impaired arterial distensibility, pro-atherogenic vascular alterations, and renal damage. They also include a greater risk of cardiovascular morbid events, such as myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, and stroke, independent of other concomitant risk factors. Finally, they are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. In conclusion, the present paper will provide a comprehensive in-depth review of the pathophysiological background, clinical impact, and therapeutic consequences of an elevated resting heart rate value as an independent cardiovascular risk factor in hypertension.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System
Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's...
01:18Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
01:30Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Let us explore the significant factors affecting heart rate, including age, body temperature, posture, acute pain, chemical influences,...
01:29Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
01:31Regulation of Heart Rates
The SNS increases heart rate through the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine, which act on beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart. This action increases the rate of depolarization in the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart's...
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology