V. COMPLICATIONS
C. Kidney Damage
In the kidney, hardening of the arteries leads to reduced blood flow and chronic deterioration of the
HEART FAILURE
HYPERTENSION Risk for
- CHRONIC ■-PAROXYSMAL
— Fatal, non-fatal STROKE MI... systolic dysfunction LVH... diastolic dysfunction ATRIAL FIBRILLATION*
RENAL FAILURE
,- RUPTURE AORTIC ANEURYSM or L- BERRY ANEURYSM
FIGURE 4 Common detrimental effects of hypertension. * = Not well appreciated: epidemic of atrial fibrillation with its management problems. (From Khan, M. Gabriel (2003). Cardiac Drug Therapy, sixth edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.)
kidney function, and this causes a further increase in blood pressure. Fortunately, only in patients with severe hyper¬tension is kidney failure a final occurrence. The vessels in the back of the eyes may be damaged by high blood pressure, and the changes may be observed an examination with an ophthalmoscope.