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How does atherosclerosis of the aorta affect blood pressure and heart workload?
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cardiovascular disease
This micrograph shows a cross section of a coronary artery narrowed by an atherosclerotic plaque (purplish matter inside the artery). Most heart attacks are caused by the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque, which triggers the formation of a clot that abruptly blocks blood flow to part of the heart muscle.
Atherosclerosis of the aorta significantly impacts cardiovascular function by altering the mechanical properties of the vessel wall. As the disease progresses, the aorta loses its natural elasticity and may become rigid or calcified due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.21
This loss of arterial elasticity has two primary consequences for the cardiovascular system:
- Increased Blood Pressure: The stiffening of the aortic wall prevents the vessel from expanding normally to accommodate blood ejected from the heart. Consequently, blood ejected into a rigid aorta encounters increased flow resistance, which manifests as elevated systolic blood pressure.1
- Increased Heart Workload: Because the aorta is less compliant, the heart must exert more force to pump blood into the systemic circulation against the increased resistance. This heightened demand on the heart muscle increases the overall cardiac workload, which can contribute to the development of heart failure over time, particularly in elderly patients.1
These mechanical changes represent a nonocclusive complication of atherosclerosis, distinct from the vessel-narrowing effects that characterize occlusive disease in other arterial branches.1