Arterial alterations in hypertension

Abstract

Several metabolic, humoral, local, and neural influences contribute to the homeostatic control of the cardiovascular system. All these factors physiologically interact with each other and participate in the regulation of cardiac as well as vascular function. Both endothelial and sympathetic functions seem to be the main important regulatory mechanisms involved in maintaining the homeostatic balance and participating in the cardiovascular responses to environmental needs. The alterations of these mechanisms represent the key factor for the cardiovascular modifications typical of several clinical conditions, such as heart, kidney, lung, and liver diseases as well as obesity and diabetes and represent the target for non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions.