Which failure mode becomes likely when arterial stiffness increases in a patient with hypertension?

💡 Explanation

Increased arterial stiffness in hypertension raises afterload on the heart, because the heart must work harder to eject blood into stiff vessels, resulting in compensatory left ventricular hypertrophy. Therefore, hypertrophy is likely, rather than reduced RAAS or enhanced baroreceptor sensitivity, which would typically lower blood pressure.

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