Pathophysiology of hypertension.
Environmental factors such as excessive sodium ingestion and increasing adiposity are suspected to play a major role in the development of hypertension in elderly persons. Both aging and hypertension are associated with similar vascular structural changes including atherosclerosis. Despite the observed age-related changes in vascular structure, other factors must be important in contributing to the elevated pressure in isolated systolic hypertension. Alterations in sympathetic nervous system function may play a major role in the age-related increases in blood pressure and hypertension, especially isolated systolic hypertension.
Carethers
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Division of Geriatric Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96817.
Blanchette
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PL
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged