SMALL VESSEL DISEASE and effect on bp and angina

[Rowland111]

Does small vessel disease have an effect on angina(causing it) and on blood pressure(causing high bp)?

[Rowland111]

Thank you ken for your detailed explanation of endothelial dysfunction. It help a lot.

[kenkeith]

Quote:"Does small vessel disease have an effect on angina(causing it) and on blood pressure(causing high bp)?"

There is small vessel disease.  The etiology may be explain with some insight. I'm not sure the other poster is connecting the dots.

In small vessel disease, the narrowing of the small vessels in the heart makes it so they can't expand properly when you're active. As a result, you don't get an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood. This inability to expand is called ENDOTHELIUM DYSFUNCTION. This problem may cause your small vessels to actually become smaller when you're active or under emotional stress. The reduced blood flow through the small vessels causes chest pain and other symptoms similar to those you'd have if you were having a heart attack.

The key to the disease is endothelium dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction is a physiological dysfunction of normal biochemical processes carried out by the endothelium, the cells that line the vessels. Endothelial cells are involved in many aspects of vascular biology, including:

Vasoconstriction and vasodilation, and hence the control of blood pressure
Blood clotting (thrombosis & fibrinolysis)
Atherosclerosis
Formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis)
Inflammation
Barrier function - the endothelium acts as a selective barrier between the vessel lumen and surrounding tissue, controlling the passage of materials and the transit of white blood cells into and out of the bloodstream. Excessive or prolonged increases in permeability of the endothelial monolayer, as in cases of chronic inflammation, may lead to tissue edema/swelling.

[Rowland111]

Thank you much for your reply. What I'm trying to get at is: Does having small blood vessels (with or without plaque) contribute to/cause angina and/or high bp? I suspect it does. My mother died at 90 and she had angina and small blood vessels and high bp too.

[cath911]

I apologise, having read your question again, I see what you are asking.
Yes in a word, plaque build up can cause higher blood pressure. It basically makes the inner volume of the artery less, increasing the pressure. It depends really how bad the disease is as to what effect it has on your pressure.

[cath911]

I have never heard of anyone having small veins or having an inadequate number of veins to return blood to the right side of the heart. With regards to arteries, the smaller they are, the greater the blood pressure which is why they are constantly changing their size to compensate for the bodys needs. For example, when the heart is at rest, the arteries will shrink down to raise the pressure to ensure a supply of blood to the brain etc. When exercising the arteries will open up, giving a greater flow which will drop pressure, this is when the heart will start to pump faster to compensate. So, I'm not really sure if I still understand the question. Are you asking 1) you think you have small vessels and is increasing your blood pressure 2) you have high blood pressure and artery disease and want to know if the disease will increase blood pressure 3) just curious as to if smaller vessels cause higher pressure.

[Rowland111]

Thanks for responding, but I'm curious to know whether having small veins can be a CAUSE of angina and high blood pressure.

[cath911]

If any vessels in the heart are diseased, large or small, angina can result because the heart tissue in that area will not receive enough oxygen. Restrictions in blood vessels through blockages can affect blood pressure also. I have seen many patients have blood pressure return to normal or slightly below normal after stenting and have been taken off blood pressure medication as a result.