HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AS A RISK FACTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MITRAL REGURGITATION

*Clemiya Paul

ABSTRACT

According to WHO, blood pressure is defined as 'the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the body's arteries, the major blood vessels in the body'. High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition when blood pressure is high. High blood pressure is known as one of the risk factors for development of mitral regurgitation in patients with no known pre-existing cardiac disease. This article discusses about what is meant by high blood pressure, classification and aetiology of high blood pressure, what is mitral regurgitation and aetiology of mitral regurgitation, clinical features of mitral regurgitation, effect of high blood pressure on mitral valve and its components, and how high blood pressure can be a risk factor for the development of mitral regurgitation in a patient with no known cardiac disease. This also discusses appropriate steps to manage high blood pressure and also the preventive measures against the development of mitral regurgitation due to high blood pressure.

Keywords: High blood pressure, Mitral regurgitation, Mitral valve, Primary hypertension, Secondary hypertension, Prehypertension, Hypertensive crisis.