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Arterial Stiffening

Meaning

Arterial stiffening is a pathological condition defined by the loss of elasticity and increased rigidity of the arterial walls, a key marker of vascular aging and cardiovascular risk. This physiological change results from structural alterations in the extracellular matrix, including the breakdown of elastin and accumulation of collagen, often exacerbated by chronic inflammation and hormonal changes. Increased arterial stiffness leads to higher systolic blood pressure and increased cardiac workload, significantly raising the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Clinical assessment of pulse wave velocity is a common method to quantify this vascular health metric.