How does arterial stiffness affect pulse pressure?

The result of these changes is stiffening of the arteries and consequent increase in pulse‐wave velocity (PWV), which is used to assess arterial stiffness. Increased arterial stiffness can cause isolated systolic hypertension, which increases pulse pressure (PP).

How Does elasticity of arterial walls affect blood pressure?

The size and elasticity of the artery walls also affect blood pressure. Each time the heart beats (contracts and relaxes), pressure is created inside the arteries. The pressure is greatest when blood is pumped out of the heart into the arteries.

How does arterial stiffness affect the heart?

The stiffer and harder the blood vessel walls, the wider the pulse pressure and more the heart has to work to pump blood into the arteries. In persons with stiffer arterial walls only a small fraction of each cardiac stroke volume can be utilized for blood circulation without increasing the blood pressure.

What happens if arteries become stiff?

Arterial stiffening occurs with age and is closely associated with the progression of cardiovascular disease. Stiffening is most often studied at the level of the whole vessel because increased stiffness of the large arteries can impose increased strain on the heart leading to heart failure.

What causes increase in pulse pressure?

A widened (or larger) pulse pressure occurs with several diseases, including aortic regurgitation, aortic sclerosis (both heart valve conditions), severe iron deficiency anemia (reduced blood viscosity), arteriosclerosis (less compliant arteries), and hyperthyroidism (increased systolic pressure).

How do arteries maintain blood pressure?

Arteries control blood pressure by balancing two processes: one that constricts the artery wall and another that relaxes it. But in people at risk of developing high blood pressure or atherosclerosis, there is more constriction, impeding the free flow of blood, which increases the risk for heart attack and stroke.

Why does arterial stiffness lead to myocardial thickening?

With progressive stiffening of the elastic arteries, LV afterload increases because the reflected waves return earlier during systole, thus, leading to myocardial hypertrophy.

How does peripheral resistance affect blood pressure?

Peripheral vascular resistance (systemic vascular resistance, SVR) is the resistance in the circulatory system that is used to create blood pressure, the flow of blood and is also a component of cardiac function. When blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction) this leads to an increase in SVR.

What determines arterial stiffness?

Arterial stiffness is primarily determined by structural components of the arterial wall, elastin and collagen in particular, vascular smooth muscle tone, and transmural distending pressure.

Does your systolic and/or diastolic arterial pressure change as your heart rate increases?

At constant arteriole resistance, increasing heart rate may increase apparent diastolic pressure. Diastolic pressure also tracks systolic pressure given that an increase in systolic pressure sets a higher starting point from which the arterial pressure may descend between contractions.

Is pulse pressure the same as blood pressure?

Pulse pressure is the difference between the upper and lower numbers of your blood pressure. Pulse pressure tends to increase as you get older, and this number can also be an indicator of health problems before you develop symptoms.

What causes stiffening of the arterial wall?

Arterial stiffening is the principal cause of increasing systolic pressure with advancing years and in patients with arterial hypertension. It is associated with progressive arterial dilation and is due to degeneration of the arterial wall, probably as a consequence of repetitive cyclic stress;

Does arterial stiffness alone lead to hypertension?

In clinical studies, a consistent temporal sequence of arterial stiffness preceding hypertension was also observed in the Framingham Heart Cohort Study [ 4 ]. However, the biological mechanisms and cellular processes whereby increased arterial stiffness alone can lead to hypertension are still not understood, encouraging further investigation.

What is arterial stiffening and its reversal?

A simplified model of arterial stiffening and its reversibility. With aging, blood vessel structural changes and endothelial dysfunction can occur. Various factors contribute to arterial stiffening, such as changes in the composition of elastin and collagen fibers, calcification, and inflammation in the arterial wall.

How does diet affect arterial stiffness in obesity?

In a murine model of diet-induced obesity, the increased pulse wave velocity (PWV: the gold standard in vivo measure for arterial stiffness) in obese mice fed a high fat/high sucrose diet (HFHS) for 5 months was reduced to normal after returning obese mice to standard chow for 2 months [ 5 ].