Why does arteriosclerosis cause high blood pressure?

Close

Link to this answer

Share this credible answer with others. Simply paste this code into your blog or Web page:

<a href="http://qanda.encyclopedia.com/question/why-does-arteriosclerosis-cause-high-blood-pressure-80426.html" >Why does arteriosclerosis cause high blood pressure?</a>

Initially lesions are formed on the arterial walls, which results in blistering and the accumulation of low-density cholesterol. This produces higher blood pressure, which facilitates the imbedding of cholesterol and calcium in the vessel walls. The fatty material accumulates calcium and produces hard plaques, thus hardening the walls of the vessels. As the vessel walls thicken, the passageways through the vessels narrow, decreasing the blood supply to the affected region. Constriction of the coronary arteries may affect the heart (see coronary artery disease , heart disease ). If the leg vessels are affected, there may be pain with walking and an onset of gangrene. When there is total clotting of a vessel ( thrombosis ) the result may be a heart attack (if it occurs in the coronary arteries) or stroke (if in cerebral arteries).