May be acute or chronic. It may be caused by many diseases affecting the endocardium, myocardium or pericardium, but most often it is a consequence of atherosclerosis affecting the coronary arteries . Classified as primary or secondary. Hypertensive heart disease Heart disease caused by increased blood pressure. Characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy , usually accompanied by relative ischemia of the myocardium.
Hypertension also predisposes the arteries to atherosclerosis .
Hypertrophy of the myocardium Increased thickness of the wall of cardiac chambers. It can involve the left ventricle or the right ventricle or both. The most important causes of left ventricular hypertrophy are arterial hypertension and valvular diseases of the aortic orifice. The most common cause of right ventricular hypertrophy is left ventricular hypertrophy. Right ventricular hypertrophy is a sign of chronic cor pulmonale and it regularly accompanies chronic pulmonary hypertension.