Stiff artery walls may cause high blood pressure instead of being its consequence
Thursday, November 6, 2014 - 04:32
in Physics & Chemistry
The stiffness of the arterial wall can be determined through the pulse wave velocity, which can be measured by use of an applanation tonometer. Scientists discovered that this stiffness has predictive value for the development of hypertension. This suggests that arterial stiffness, instead of being a consequence of high blood pressure, might be its cause. Stiffness of the arterial walls can, in other words, be the best predictor of this pathology.