Final answer:
Hypertension can cause increased afterload, hypertrophy of the ventricles, and valve defects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hypertension can cause increased afterload, hypertrophy of the ventricles, and valve defects. Afterload refers to the tension that the ventricles must develop to pump blood effectively against the resistance in the vascular system.
Hypertension increases resistance and requires the heart to work harder to pump blood, leading to increased afterload. Over time, this can result in ventricular hypertrophy and valve defects.