Why does hypertension increase the risk of heart failure in individuals with pre-existing arterial stiffness?

💡 Explanation

Hypertension worsens arterial stiffness, increasing the afterload on the left ventricle because the heart must work harder to eject blood against higher arterial pressure. Therefore, the left ventricle hypertrophies and eventually fails, rather than improved diastolic filling or reduced myocardial oxygen demand occurring.

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