Heart Health Heart Disease Causes & Risk Factors Endothelial Dysfunction By Richard N. Fogoros, MD Richard N. Fogoros, MD Facebook LinkedIn Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified in internal medicine, clinical cardiology, and clinical electrophysiology. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 12, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Mark L. Meyer, MD, JD Medically reviewed by Mark L. Meyer, MD, JD Mark Meyer, MD, JD, is a board-certified physician who specializes in diagnostic and preventative cardiology. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Science Photo Library - PASIEKA/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Endothelial Layer Causes Associated Disorders Diagnosis Treatment The concept of endothelial dysfunction has become important in recent years to our understanding of many cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, microvascular angina (cardiac syndrome x), diastolic dysfunction, and others. Endothelial Dysfunction Endothelial dysfunction is a condition in which the endothelial layer (the inner lining) of the small arteries fails to perform all of its important functions normally. As a result, several bad things can happen to the tissues supplied by those arteries. Function of the Endothelial Layer In the body's arterioles (the small arteries that precisely regulate the flow of blood to the tissues), the endothelial layer (or endothelium) is the inner lining of cells that has several critical functions. The endothelium maintains the proper dilation and constriction of the blood vessels. This function determines on a moment-to-moment basis how much blood is received by the body's various tissues. Endothelial "tone" (the balance between dilation and constriction) also largely determines a person’s blood pressure, and how much work the heart must do to pump blood out to the body. In addition, the endothelium also protects the tissues from various toxic substances, regulates the blood clotting mechanismm controls fluid, electrolytes, and numerous other substances that pass back and forth between the blood and the tissues, and regulates inflammation in the tissues. What all this means is that the proper functioning of the endothelium is critical for the normal function of the body’s tissues and organs. When the endothelial layer fails to perform all these functions adequately—in other words, when endothelial dysfunction is present—conditions will favor the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and other types of cardiovascular disease. Causes of Endothelial Dysfunction Because the endothelium is so important to so many vital functions, a lot of research is being done to understand all the causes of endothelial dysfunction. At this point, it is apparent that endothelial dysfunction is related to a reduction in the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in blood vessel walls. NO is a gas that is produced by the metabolism of the amino acid L-arginine. NO, which has a very short half-life, acts locally within blood vessels to help modulate vascular tone and the other important endothelial duties. A deficiency in NO production leads to excess constriction of blood vessels (which can produce hypertension), contributes to the activation of platelets (leading to blood clotting), increases the stimulation of inflammation in blood vessel walls (which contributes to atherosclerosis), and increases the permeability of the vessel walls to damaging lipoproteins and various toxins. To summarize, endothelial dysfunction is characterized by reduced vascular NO levels, which, in turn, leads to several abnormalities in blood vessel function. These functional abnormalities tend to promote cardiovascular disease. In addition, endothelial dysfunction can directly cause abnormal constriction of the small arteries, and is thought to be a major factor in producing cardiac syndrome x and, potentially, diastolic dysfunction. Associated Disorders and Habits The precise pathways by which a person develops endothelial dysfunction are still being worked out. However, it seems clear that numerous medical disorders, habits, and unavoidable life events can contribute to it, including: Hypertension Diabetes Elevated LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels Smoking Sedentary lifestyle Emotional stress: Stress cardiomyopathy, also known as “broken heart syndrome,” is now thought to be associated with an acute and severe form of endothelial dysfunction. Infections Heart failure Hypothyroidism Osteoporosis Aging Chemotherapy and radiation therapy Genetic influences Diagnosis Making a formal diagnosis of endothelial dysfunction is usually not necessary. Some degree of endothelial dysfunction can be safely assumed in anyone who has CAD, hypertension, or major risk factors for heart disease (especially those listed above). So actually measuring a patient's endothelial function is not something doctors routinely do. But if endothelial dysfunction is suspected in a person without clear reasons for it (such as a person thought to have cardiac syndrome x), a diagnosis can be confirmed by tests that measure the ability of the blood vessels to dilate (during catheterization or with ultrasound) in response to the administration of acetylcholine. Treatments Endothelial function can be improved by the lifestyle measures that are commonly urged on all of us to reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease, including weight loss, exercise, smoking cessation, control of hypertension, and control of diabetes. Certain of these risk-control measures have been well documented to reduce endothelial dysfunction. These include: Statin drugs Mediterranean diet Other dietary measures including nuts, olive oil, dark chocolate, green tea, plant-based foods. Aerobic exercise Weight loss In addition, several medications are being studied specifically to see whether they can improve endothelial dysfunction in a clinically meaningful way. Some of the agents that appear to show promise include nifedipine, estrogen, ranolazine, aspirin, L-arginine, and sildenafil. A Word From Verywell In recent years medical researchers have identified endothelial dysfunction as an important underlying contributor to many kinds of cardiovascular problems. While active research is being conducted to discover ways to improve endothelial function, and therefore reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, there is already a lot we can do about it. In particular, we should make sure to get plenty of exercise, stop smoking, and make sure we work with our doctors to manage our hypertension or diabetes, if we have these conditions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Did you know the most common forms of heart disease are largely preventable? Our guide will show you what puts you at risk, and how to take control of your heart health. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Taqueti VR, Di Carli MF. Coronary microvascular disease pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic options: JACC state-of-the-art review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;72:2625. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.09.042 Modena MG, Bonetti L, Coppi F, Bursi F, Rossi R. Prognostic role of reversible endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive postmenopausal women. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002;40:505. doi:10.1016/s0735-1097(02)01976-9 Yeboah J, Folsom AR, Burke GL, et al. Predictive value of brachial flow-mediated dilation for incident cardiovascular events in a population-based study: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis. Circulation 2009; 120:502. DOI:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.86480 Bairey Merz CN, Pepine CJ, Walsh MN, Fleg JL. Ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA): Developing evidence-based therapies and research agenda for the next decade. Circulation. 2017;135:1075. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.024534