Cardiovascular Changes Associated with Hypertensive Heart Disease and Aging

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide and account for more than 17.9 million deaths (World Health Organization report). Hypertension and aging are two major risk factors for the development of cardiac structural and functional abnormalities. Hypertension, or elevated blood pressure, if left untreated can result in myocardial hypertrophy leading to heart failure (HF). Left ventricular hypertrophy consequent to pressure overload is recognized as the most important predictor of congestive HF and sudden death. The pathological changes occurring during hypertensive heart disease are very complex and involve many cellular and molecular alterations. In contrast, the cardiac changes that occur with aging are a slow but life-long process and involve all of the structural components in the heart and vasculature. However, these structural changes in the cardiovascular system lead to alterations in overall cardiac physiology and function. The pace at which these pathophysiological changes occur varies between individuals owing to many genetic and environmental risk factors. This review highlights the molecular mechanisms of cardiac structural and functional alterations associated with hypertension and aging.

Hypertension induces compensatory left ventricular hypertrophy by a mechanism involving gap junction lateralization and overexpression of CD36, PKC and MMP-2

“…Our study was conducted to identify structural and biochemical changes that could explain the heart adaptation to stress in hypertension inducedcompensatory left ventricular hypertrophy. auratus) 4-month-old, weighting ~120 g, were randomly divided into two experimental groups: (1) the hypertensive (HT), L-NAME-treated hamsters (45 mg/kg body weight, n=15) group, and (2) the controls, receiving saline solution (n=10; C group). The L-NAME, or the vehicle, was administered by gavage five times per week.…”

Cross-Talks between the Cardiovascular Disease-Sarcopenia-Osteoporosis Triad and Magnesium in Humans

“…Cardiac changes with aging proceed, however, at a slow pace, but involve all components of the heart and vasculature. They manifest themselves clinically when alterations of cardiac physiology and function have reached a pathological state [26]. Dysfunction of the endothelium, with its reduced production/action of relaxing mediators, is pivotal in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, especially in hypertension.…”

Heat Shock Protein 22 in Physiological and Pathological Hearts: Small Molecule, Large Potentials

“…This adaptive cardiac remodeling advances into a decompensatory, maladaptive remodeling causing HF. This transition is not yet fully understood, although many cellular and molecular mechanisms have been proposed [ 51 ].…”