Hypertension, Arteriosclerosis and Diseases of The Coronary Arteries

In people with hypertension, the blood circulates through the veins of the body with abnormally high pressure. This can damage the veins, tissues and organs through which blood passes. Atherosclerosis is characterized by intimal thickening and lipid deposition and is a morphological variant that falls under the broad term of arteriosclerosis. Atherosclerosis causes fatty deposits that thicken the walls of arteries and as a result, they shrink and become less flexible in blood flow. The coronary artery disease worsen atherosclerosis in the veins that bring oxygen and nutrients required by the heart. Atherosclerosis is a disease of elastic arteries (eg aorta, carotid and iliac) and large and medium muscular arteries (eg coronary and popliteal arteries). The formation of atheroma, or fibrofatty plaque contributes to narrowing of the lumen and reduced blood flow in distal tissues.

It is more likely that any of these three complications occur in diabetics than in others. To approach the treatment and prevention of hypertension see hypertension, arteriosclerosis, see Arteriosclerosis; and coronary artery disease, see Coronary Disease.

Occasionally, people with diabetes experience cramps while walking or climbing stairs. These disappear when activity ceases. Before this symptom called “claudication” or to the observation of discoloration of the feet, or sores that do not close, the physician should be consulted immediately.