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Article: The effects of hypertension.(Hypertension)
- Article from:
- Vibrant Life
- Article date:
- January 1, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Review and Herald Publishing Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Why bother to control hypertension? The statistics, and the numbers make a compelling argument. But even more convincing is a close examination of the damage done to organs. Here is a quick tour of the vital organs--and a graphic description of what hypertension does to them.
The Arteries
For reasons that are not completely clear, hypertension hastens hardening of the arteries, a process known as arteriosclerosis, or atherosclerosis. The terms are basically synonymous, although arteriosclerosis is the broader category and includes athetoscierosis. Atherosclerosis refers to a buildup of plaque on the inside lining, called the intima, of the artery.
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