Preliminary autopsy reports indicate that famous TV pitchman Billy Mays may have died of hypertensive heart disease.
Hypertensive heart disease is a complication of hypertension, which is commonly known as high blood pressure.
High blood pressure makes the heart work harder. Over time, this can cause the heart muscled to become thicker. As the heart pumps against higher pressure in the blood vessels, the left ventricle becomes enlarged and the amount of blood pumped by the heart goes down.
If this is left untreated, congestive heart failure may develop.
Other possible results of hypertensive heart disease are ischemic heart disease (decreased blood to the heart muscle) or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (decreased blood flow from the heart).
These conditions can lead to angina, arrhythmias, heart attack, heart failure, or sudden death.
Common symptoms of hypertensive heart disease include fatigue, irregular pulse, swelling of feet, weight gain, nausea, shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping flat in bed, bloating, and greater need to urinate at night.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a combination of these symptoms and have been previously diagnosed with high blood pressure, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
