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Common Leading Causes Behind Hypertension | Wellness Clinic

Cardiovascular disease, also called heart disease, involves numerous issues, including diseased vessels, structural problems, and blood clots. High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when your blood pressure increases to unhealthy levels. Your blood pressure measurement takes into account how quickly blood is passing through your veins and the amount of resistance the blood meets while it’s pumping.


What are the leading causes of cardiovascular disease and hypertension?


Oxidative stress, inflammation and autoimmune dysfunction initiate and propagate hypertension and cardiovascular disease. In a series of research studies correlated to cardiovascular disease and hypertension, Dr. Mark C. Houston, MD, discussed the role that oxidative stress, inflammation and autoimmune dysfunction plays in relation to treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Oxidative Stress


Oxidative stress, with an imbalance between the defense mechanisms and RNS as well as ROS, contributes to the etiology of hypertension in humans and animals. Radical oxygen species and RNS are generated by numerous mobile sources, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrase (NADPH) oxidase, mitochondria, xanthine oxidase, uncoupled endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) synthase (U-eNOS), cyclo-oxygenase and lipo-oxygenase. Superoxide anion is your predominant ROS species produced with these tissues, which inhibits NO and also leads to downstream production of additional ROS (As seen in Figure 3).


Vascular Endothelium


Patients have impaired an oxidative stress reaction to several stimuli, an elevated plasma oxidative stress and exogenous and endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms. Hypertensive subjects also have lower plasma ferric reducing ability of plasma vitamin C levels and increased plasma 8-isoprostanes, which correlate with both diastolic and systolic BP. Different single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP’s) in genes that codify for antioxidant enzymes are directly linked to hypertension. These include NADPH oxidase, xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD 3), catalase, glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx 1) and thioredoxin. Antioxidant deficiency and excess free radical production have been implicated in human hypertension in several epidemiologic, observational and interventional studies (Table 2).


Table 2 Infographic


Radical oxygen species directly damage endothelial cells, degrade NO, influence eicosanoid metabolism, oxidize LDL, lipids, proteins, proteins, DNA and natural molecules, boost catecholamines, harm the genetic machinery, affect gene expression and transcription factors. The interrelations of systems, oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease are shown in Figures 6 and 7. The increased oxidative stress, inflammation and autoimmune vascular dysfunction in human hypertension results in a combination of an response to ROS and RNS increased generation of ROS and RNS and a decreased antioxidant reserve. Increased oxidative stress from the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) enhances glutamatergic excitatory inputs and attenuates GABA-ergic inhibitory inputs into the RVLM which contributes to increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity from the paraventricular nucleus. Activation of this AT1R in the RVLM raises NADPH oxidase and increases oxidative stress and superoxide anion, increases SNS outflow causing an imbalance of SNS/PNS action with elevation of BP, increased heartbeat and alterations in heart rate variability and heart rate recovery time, which can be obstructed by AT1R blockers.


Endothelium-Dependent Responses


Neurohormonal and Oxidative Stress System Interaction




The link between hypertension and inflammation was suggested in both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. Raised in high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) and other inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1B, (IL-1B), IL-6, tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α) and chronic leukocytosis occur in hypertension and hypertensive-related TOD, such as increased carotid IMT. HS-CRP predicts CV events. Elevated HS-CRP is risk factor and a risk marker for hypertension and CVD. Increases in HS-CRP of over 3 μg/mL can increase BP in only a couple of days that is directly proportional to the increase in HS-CRP. ENOS and nitric oxide are inhibited by HS-CRP. HS-CRP, down-regulates the AT2R, that counterbalances AT1R. Angiotensin II (A-II) upregulates many of those cytokines, notably IL-6, CAMs and chemokines by activating nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB) resulting in vasoconstriction. These events, as well as the increases in endothelin-1 and oxidative stress, elevate BP.


Autoimmune Dysfunction


Innate and adaptive immune responses are associated with hypertension and hypertension-induced CVD through at least three mechanisms: central nervous system stimulation cytokine generation and renal impairment. This includes salt-sensitive hypertension with dysregulation of both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes increased inflammation because of T cell imbalance and chronic leukocytosis with increased neutrophils and lymphocytes that are decreased. Leukocytosis, especially neutrophils and decreased lymphocyte count raise BP in Blacks by. Macrophages and invade the wall, trigger TLRs, various subtypes govern BP and cause autoimmune vascular damage. Angiotensin II activates immune cells (T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells) and promotes cell infiltration into target organs. CD4+ T lymphocytes express AT1R and PPAR gamma receptors, and release TNF-α, interferon and interleukins inside the vascular wall when triggered (Figure 5). May play a role in the genesis of hypertension brought on by Angiotensin II. Patients have higher TLR 4 mRNA in monocytes in comparison to normal. Intensive decrease in BP to systolic BP (SBP) less than 130 mmHg vs SBP to just 140 mmHg reduces the TLR 4 longer. A-II activates the TLR expression resulting in inflammation and activation of the innate immune system. When TLR 4 is triggered there is downstream macrophage activation, increase metalloproteinase 9, migration, vascular remodeling, collagen accumulation in LVH the gut and cardiac fibrosis. The autonomic nervous system is essential in either increasing or decreasing inflammation and immune dysfunction. Efferent cholinergic pathways through the nerve innervate the spleen, nicotine acetylcholine receptor subunits and cytokine producing immune cells to BP and affect vasoconstriction. Nearby CNS inflammation or ischemia may mediate vascular hypertension and inflammation.


Aldosterone is correlated with increased adaptive immunity and autoimmune responses with CD4+ T cell activation and Th 17 polarization with improved IL 17, TGF-β and TNF-α which modulate over 30 inflammatory genes. Serum aldosterone is also an independent risk factor for CVD and CHD via non-hemodynamic effects as well as through increased BP. Blockade of receptors in brain, the heart, blood vessels and immune cells reduces CV danger even with the persistence of hypertension.


In conclusion, cardiovascular disease and hypertension have been associated with numerous issues, however, oxidative stress, inflammation and autoimmune dysfunction have been regarded as the most prevalent causes behind cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Oxidative stress, defined as a disturbance in the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) and antioxidant defenses, inflammation and autoimmune dysfunction, occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. Cardiovascular disease and hypertension is an indication of cardiovascular issues which should be addressed by a healthcare professional.




By Dr. Alex Jimenez


Additional Topics: Wellness




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