Question

Why does blood pressure increase in atherosclerosis? This is related to Resistance, afterload, the impact on SV leading to the change in BP. This also includes the short term and long term regulation of BP. Tell me how this developed form there being a plaque in the coronary vessels. It deals with the backing up of pressure from the blocked arteries.

You want to discuss the baroreceptors, the ones in the aorta and the ones in the carotid bodies, they are receiving two different BP measurements when this all starts. The one in the aorta is dealing with a build up of resistance and pressure, the other is the loss of flow and pressure. The brain wins and the long term regulation of BP is activated because of this.

Please no cursive answers, Thank You!

Answer 1

One of the most serious health problems related to untreated high blood pressure is atherosclerosis, or plaque build-up in the arteries. When those blockages occur in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, the end result is called coronary artery disease.

People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop coronary artery disease, because high blood pressure puts added force against the artery walls. Over time, this extra pressure can damage the arteries, making them more vulnerable to the narrowing and plaque buildup associated with atherosclerosis. The narrowed artery limits or blocks the flow of blood to the heart muscle, depriving the heart of oxygen.

When the process is advanced enough, patients can experience angina, or chest pain, when they exert themselves. The hardened surface of the artery can also encourage the formation of small blood clots, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Baroreceptors are located near the carotid bifurcation, a common site of atherosclerotic plaque. Baroreceptors sense blood pressure by responding to stretch of the arterial wall, sending nerve traffic to brain stem centers that regulate autonomic control of blood pressure. When the blood vessels are too rigid to stretch, baroreceptor function is deficient. Rigid carotid arteries are the strongest physiological correlate of a decreased baroreflex. When baroreceptor input is diminished, the autonomic nervous system buffers blood pressure, poorly leading to both hypertension and hypotension.