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In heart failure, the heart does not stop
beating. It continues to beat but its contractions are
no longer as complete and effective. With each
contraction, less volume of blood is pumped. There are
many effects of loss of pumping efficiency or heart
failure. Since less blood reaches the tissues of the
body, muscles suffer from lack of adequate nourishment
and there is muscle fatigue. Less blood may reach the
brain and the patient may not be able to think as
effectively as he previously could. There is a build-up
of pressure within the heart itself. Unable to pump out
blood completely, the heart experiences increased
internal pressure as its chambers dilate and become
reservoirs for abnormal amounts of blood. The pressure
extends backwards to the lungs, which may then retain
fluids, sometimes as much as several litres. From the
lungs the pressure is transmitted still further back to
the veins of the body, the liver and the legs. The liver
becomes congested and enlarged; the legs swell with
fluids; the neck veins become distended. In spite of
vigorous treatment, 50 per cent of persons suffering
from heart failure do not survive for more than five
years; and 20 per cent of them leave for the heavenly
abode within a year.
(3) Detrimental effects on
kidneys: If the blood pressure is elevated,
the kidneys cannot perform their work of
blood-filtration effectively. Consequently salt and
toxins accumulate in the body. Each gram of salt
accumulated in the body has a capacity to hold back 70
grams of water from being excreted. Such water retention
aggrevates heart failure. High blood pressure also
gradually destroys the cells of the kidneys. Kidney
damage is manifested by loss of useful nutrients through
the urine. A study conducted by Dr. Perera showed that
42 per cent of people who did nothing to control their
blood pressure, lost albumin in their urine. Statistics
show that unless vigorously and incessantly treated,
persons losing albumin in their urine do not survive for
more than five years.
(4) Arteriolar inflammation:
Some patients of high blood pressure suffer from
inflammation of the arterioles. The cells of the walls
of the arterioles undergo necrosis and destruction. The
symptoms of this disorder include rapidly increasing
high blood pressure ( accelerated hypertension), retinal
haemorrhages and progressive kidney failure. There was a
time when arteriolar inflammation led to an almost
certain death within an year. Today, however, a
patient’s life can be prolonged with effective drugs.
(5) Dissecting aneurysm of the
aorta: A part of the main artery ( aorta)
becomes thin in some patients of high blood pressure.
The cells of the thinned part undergo rotting and
destruction. The thinned part may then balloon out
either outwards or inwards ( into the lumen of the
aorta). If it balloons inwards, it obstructs the flow of
blood. If it balloons outwards it may rupture, causing
massive haemorrhage. If the condition is immediately
diagnosed, the patient’s life may be saved by drugs and
an operation; if not, death soon ensues.
(6) Reduced life-expectancy:
The most serious hazard of high blood pressure is that
it shortens life. For example, for a man of 35, if the
blood pressure is 142/85, the mortality rate is 150 per
cent above average; if the blood pressure is 152/85, the
mortality rate increases to 225 per cent; if the blood
pressure is 145/95, the mortality rate is again 225 per
cent above average; if the blood pressure is 152/95, the
mortality rate increases to 300 per cent above average.
This sixth risk factor indicates that however mild the
elevation of blood pressure, zealous efforts should be
made to bring it down, without delay. |
