If a patient experiences chronic hypertension due to increased sympathetic nervous system activity, which consequence follows regarding cardiovascular hemodynamics?

💡 Explanation

Chronic hypertension, induced by elevated sympathetic activity, causes vasoconstriction, leading to increased systemic vascular resistance because the sympathetic nervous system directly stimulates vascular smooth muscle contraction. Therefore, peripheral resistance rises, rather than decreases, and cardiac issues can develop later due to the sustained pressure overload.

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