Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major chronic disease worldwide, which is now occurring at an increasing rate in younger adults. Hypertension is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that leads to congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, and significant mortality.
Immortal intracellular pathogens in cardiovascular tissue lead to chronic infection, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. The pathogens and the immune response to the pathogens stimulates the evolution of chronic disease.