Hypertension: A Continuing Public Healthcare Issue

Figures

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  Figure 1. Hypertension considerations in different organs; high blood pressure affects all other organs of the body by affecting the cardiovascular and sympathetic nervous system. Left Panel: Major mechanisms controlling blood pressure are the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, kidney sodium retention, vasoconstriction and total peripheral resistance, and heart contractility and cardiac output. Hypertension can damage major organs, such as the kidney, brain, arteries, eyes, and heart. Right Panel: Environmental and genetic factors lead to increased sympathetic activity, which act on the kidneys, the adrenal gland, and the heart to increase blood pressure, resulting in hypertension. Created with BioRender.com.

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  Figure 2. Classes of anti-hypertensive drugs affect blood pressure reduction through different pathways. There are six classes of anti-hypertensive drugs: calcium channel blockers (CCBs), beta-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE), diuretics, and alpha blockers. Anti-hypertensive drugs act on the heart, small resistance arteries, and kidney to decrease total peripheral resistance (TPR) and cardiac output. Created with BioRender.com.

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  Figure 3. The specific living conditions of individuals influence the occurrence and intensity of hypertension. Factors contributing to hypertension, including stress, high salt intake, and smoking, appear on the left side in red. Other factors contributing to hypertension are provided on the right side in blue, which includes chronic kidney disease, medications, pregnancy, and adrenal tumors. Created with BioRender.com.