High blood pressure can cause things like a Stroke (CVA), Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), and other general circulatory problems. Something that may not be seen is the effect that it has on your heart. High blood pressure can effect your heart just as it would your brain; more than just a heart attack. High blood pressure stresses your heart out and can cause conditions like Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), coronary artery insufficiency, and problems in the aorta.
Contraction and Relaxation of the Heart
The heart has two distinct phases; systole and diastole. During systole the heart is contracting and expending energy that is supplied to it from the coronary arteries. During diastole the heart is relaxing and gaining oxygen and nutrients to prepare for the next contraction.
The main parts of the heart that pump blood out are the ventricles. The left ventricle pumps out to the aorta and the right ventricle pumps out to the lungs. The ultimate key here is that during diastole the coronary arteries are being fed energy requirements and the left ventricle is refilling.
