Hypertension and Heart Failure

This book explains how hypertension affects 20-50% of the adult population in developed countries. Heart failure is the result of the hypertension's effects on the heart and it represents a growing public health problem. In this context the international scientific community is continuously struggling to develop better strategies in screening, diagnosing and treating hypertension and its deleterious effects. Thus, this field is continuously changing, with new important information being added constantly.This volume will offer both insights into the intimate mechanisms of transition from hypertension to heart failure and clinical practice advice on the prevention and treatment of heart failure in hypertensive population. The mechanisms which explain the progression from hypertension to heart failure will be also covered exhaustively by offering two chapters referring to the diagnosis of heart failure in hypertensive population and one regarding echocardiography which is the most frequently used imaging method in clinical practice. The reader will be also provided with information on cardiovascular magnetic resonance which has the unique advantage of differentiating hypertensive heart failure from other pathologies associated with increased myocardial thickness.This book is a useful tool for clinicians but also to the research community interested in heart failure and consequences of hypertension on heart who want to be up-to-date with the new developments in the field.

This book explains how hypertension affects 20-50% of the adult population in developed countries. Heart failure is the result of the hypertension's effects on the heart and it represents a growing public health problem. In this context the international scientific community is continuously struggling to develop better strategies in screening, diagnosing and treating hypertension and its deleterious effects. Thus, this field is continuously changing, with new important information being added constantly. This volume will offer both insights into the intimate mechanisms of transition from hypertension to heart failure and clinical practice advice on the prevention and treatment of heart failure in hypertensive population. The mechanisms which explain the progression from hypertension to heart failure will be also covered exhaustively by offering two chapters referring to the diagnosis of heart failure in hypertensive population and one regarding echocardiography which is the most frequently used imaging method in clinical practice. The reader will be also provided with information on cardiovascular magnetic resonance which has the unique advantage of differentiating hypertensive heart failure from other pathologies associated with increased myocardial thickness. This book is a useful tool for clinicians but also to the research community interested in heart failure and consequences of hypertension on heart who want to be up-to-date with the new developments in the field. 

PART I. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS.- 1 Epidemiological aspects (prevalence, risk of heart failure connected to blood pressure).- PART II. MECHANISMS OF HEART FAILURE IN ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION.- 2 The genetic background.- 3 Blood pressure load and blood pressure variability.- 4 Hemodynamic mechanisms of heart failure in hypertension.- 5 Neural mechanisms.- 6 Natriuretic peptides.- 7 Renal mechanisms.- 8 Metabolic factors.- 9 Role of central blood pressure and arterial stiffening.- 10 Pathophysiologic mechanisms of heart failure in hypertension: an overview.- PART III. DIAGNOSIS OF HEART FAILURE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS.- 11 Role of echocardiography.- 12 The additive value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in hypertensive heart disease.- 13 Biomarkers.- PART IV. COMPLICATIONS OF HYPERTENSIVE HEART DISEASE.- 14 Atrial Fibrilation and other arrhythmias in hypertensive heart disease.- 15 Flash pulmonary edema.- 16 Impact of hypertensive heart disease on cardiovascular events and mortality.- PART V. PREVENTION OF HEART FAILURE IN HYPERTENSION.- 17 Non-Pharmacological Treatment.- 18 Differences and similarities between antihypertensive drugs.- 19 Regression under treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy and other structural alterations.- PART VI. TREATMENT OF HEART FAILURE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS.- 20 Treatment of Heart Failure In Hypertensive Patients - New drugs.- 21 Treatment of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.- 22 Treatment of acute Heart failure in Hypertensive crisis.- PART VII. INVASIVE APPROACHES.- 23 Carotid baroreceptor stimulation.- 24 Renal nerves ablation.- PART VIII. HYPERTENSION, HEART FAILURE AND GUIDELINES.- 25 Heart failure in hypertensive patients - ready for guidelines?