Therapeutic modification of arterial stiffness: An update and comprehensive review

Figure 1 The central aortic pressure waveform is the summation of forward travelling wave, P (f) and the reflected backward-travelling wave, P (b). On the top graph IA-I, is an illustration of a stiff aorta or peripheral vasoconstriction, both P (f) and P (b) travel fast and the magnitude of the reflected wave is increased, thus augmenting the systolic pressure of summated central aortic pressure waveform, P (m). In graph IA-II, is another illustration of a distensible aorta or with vasodilatation. Length and thickness of horizontal arrows correspond to the waveform velocity and the magnitude of the reflected wave, respectively. Vertical arrows indicate point of merging of P (f) and P (b).