LDL cholesterol increases with age. It also will increase with a weight gain and is directly associated with the American type diet or a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol. There has been various striking studies that show therapy directed at lowering the LDL cholesterol is associated with a marked lowering of immortality from atherosclerotic vascular disease. There is a strong relationship between both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in coronary disease. This is a linear effect or in other words the higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk of developing a complication from hypertension.
Hypertension is one of the most common causes of left ventricular hypertrophy.
It is very analogous to weight lifting as the muscles become enlarged. When this occurs secondary to high blood pressure, the heart muscle actually becomes enlarged and thickened. This becomes a very strong risk factor or marker for problems including heart attacks or heart failure and even sudden death. Left ventricular hypertrophy can be identified by a cardiogram or EKG and is a very strong indication for aggressive blood pressure therapy. It is felt that left ventricular hypertrophy is reducible and can likely lower the risks associated with it.