If chronic hypertension leads to arterial stiffness, which physiological adjustment is MOST likely to maintain blood pressure homeostasis in the *short term*?

💡 Explanation

Increased sympathetic nerve activity is most likely to maintain blood pressure in the short term because the arterial stiffness reduces baroreceptor sensitivity, therefore the body attempts to compensate through increased heart rate and vasoconstriction rather than reducing blood volume via ANP or renin.

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