What does arteriosclerosis cause and why?

• A. It has no effect on blood pressure
• B. It improves arterial elasticity
• C. It reduces cholesterol levels
• D. It causes high blood pressure because it does not allow for the artery to expand/contract as heart ventricles expand and relax

Answer: (D)

Arteriosclerosis stiffens the walls of arteries, reducing their ability to expand and recoil with each heartbeat. Because the arteries can’t stretch as the heart pumps, the pressure needed to push blood through these stiff vessels rises, leading to higher systolic blood pressure and often an overall increase in blood pressure. This is why the statement about causing high blood pressure due to limited (expansion/contraction) of the artery is the best fit.

The other options don’t fit because arteriosclerosis does not increase arterial elasticity, nor does it directly lower cholesterol. It’s about stiffness, not a reduction in cholesterol, and it does affect blood pressure by making the vessels less compliant.