[10] Hypertension Flashcards
What is the problem with defining a value for hypertension?
Because blood pressure has a skewed distribution within the population, it is difficult to definitively define a value for hypertension
How is the diagnostic value for hypertension determined>
It is the value where there is a significant risk, and obvious benefit of treatment
What value is the diagnostic threshold for hypertension?
135/85mmHg
What should a diagnosis of hypertension be made based on?
Not on a single reading, but rather an assessment of a period of time
What is the period of time of assessment before diagnosis of hypertension determined by?
The BP, and the presence of other factors or end organ damage
What is ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)?
When your blood pressure is measured as you move around, living normal day-to-day life
What time period is ABPM normally carried out over?
24 hours
How is ABPM carried out?
Using a small digital blood pressure machine that is attached to a belt around the body, and connected to a cuff around the upper arm
Why is ABPM useful?
It can determine how blood pressure changes throughout the day, to determine the efficacy of medicine, and to see if blood pressure stays high at night
What is blood pressure a measure of?
How well the cardiovascular system is functioning
Why is it important blood pressure is controled to remain at a normal level?
Because blood pressure needs to be high enough to give organs enough blood and nutrients, but not so high that it damages vessels
What is short-term regulation of the blood pressure via?
The autonomic nervous system
How are short-term changes in blood pressure detected?
By baroreceptors located in the arch of the aorta and the carotid sinus
How does the autonomic nervous system know when arterial BP is increased?
Increased arterial BP stretches the walls of the blood vessel, triggering the baroreceptors. The baroreceptors then feedback to the autonomic nevous system
How does the autonomic nervous system respond when baroreceptors detect an increased arterial BP?
It reduces the heart rate and cardiac contractility via the efferent parasympathetic fibres (vagus nerve), thus reducing blood pressure
What happens when decreased arterial blood pressure is detected by baroreceptors?
A sympathetic response is triggered, which stimulates an increase in HR and cardiac contractility, leading to an increased blood pressure
Can baroreceptors regulate blood pressure long term?
No
Why can baroreceptors not regulate blood pressure long-term?
Because the mechanism triggering baroreceptors resets itself once a more adequate blood pressure is restored
What is involved in the long-term regulation of blood pressure?
- Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
- Anti-diuretic hormone
- Natiuretic peptides
What is renin?
A peptide hormone
Where is renin released from?
The juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney
What is renin released in response to?
Sympathetic stimulation, reduced sodium-chloride delivery to the DCT, or decreased blood flow to the kidney
What is the role of renin?
It facilitates the conversion of angiontensinogen to angiotensin I
What happens to angiotensin I?
It is converted to angiontensin II using ACE
What is angiotensin II?
A potent vasoconstrictor
What does angiotensin II do?
- Acts directly on the kidney to increase sodium reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubule
- Promotes the release of aldosterone
How is sodium reabsorbed in the proximal convulted tubule?
Via the sodium-hydrogen exchanger
In addition to the conversion of angiotensin I to II, what is the role of ACE?
It breaks down bradykinin, which is a potent vasodilator
What is the result of the breakdown of bradykinin by ACE?
It potentiates an overall constricting effect
What does aldosterone do?
- Promotes salt and water retention by acting on the distal convoluted tubule to increase expression of epithelial sodium channels.
- Increases activity of basolateral sodium-potassium ATP-ase, thus increasing the electrochemical gradient for the movement of sodium ions
What is the result of aldosterones effect on sodium?
More sodium collects in the kidney tissue, then water follows by osmosis, resulting in decreased water excretion and therefore increased blood volume, thus increased blood pressure
What are prostaglandins?
Local vasodilators
What is the role of prostaglandins in the kidney?
They increase GFR and reduce sodium reabsorption.
They also act to prevent excessive vasoconstriction triggered by SNS and RAAS systems.
Where is ADH released from?
The OVLT of the hypothalamus
What is ADH released in response to?
- Thirst
- Increased plasma osmolality
What does ADH do?
- Acts to increase the permeability of the collecting duct to water by inserting aquaporin channels (AQP2) into the apical membrane
- Stimulates sodium reabsorption from the thick ascending limb of Henle
What is the result of the increased sodium reabsorption caused by ADH?
It increases water reabsorption, thus increasing plasma volume and decreasing osmolarity
Do naturiretic peptides regulate blood pressure in the short- or long-term?
Long term
Give two examples of natiuretic peptides?
- ANP
- Prostaglandins
Where is ANP synthesised and stored?
In cardiac myocytes
When is ANP released?
When the atria are stretched (indicating high blood pressure)
What effect does hypertension have on vessel walls?
It damages them, making them weaker
How does hypertension damage vessel walls?
The higher blood pressure causes increased arterial thickening through smooth muscle hypertrophy and accumulation of vascular matrix, leading to a loss of arterial compliance.
What does hypertension-mediated damage to vessel walls lead to?
A number of pathologies, including atherosclerosis, thromboembolism (progressing to MI or stroke), and aneurysms
How does hypertension damage the heart itself?
By increasing the afterload of the heart, meaning the heart is pumping against greater resistance, leading to left ventricular hypertrophy.
What can hypertension-mediated damage to the heart cause?
- It increases the risk of heart failure in the future
- It increases the hearts oxygen demands, predisposing to myocardial ischaemia and ultimately angina
What is the optimal blood pressure?
<120/80mmHg
What is considered to be normal blood pressure?
<130/85mmHg
What is considered to be grade 1 (mild) hypertension?
140-159 / 90-99mmHg
What is considered to be grade 2 (moderate) hypertension?
160-179 / 100-109mmHg
What is considered to be grade 3 (severe) hypertension?
>180 / >110mmHg
What is considered to be grade 1 isolated systolic hypertension?
140-159 / <90mmHg
What is considered to be grade 2 isolated systolic hypertension?
>160 / <90mmHg
What are the different types of hypertension?
- Primary, or essential, hypertension
- Secondary hypertension
- White-coat hypertension
- Masked hypertension
- ‘Malignant’, or accelerated phase hypertension
What is white-coat hypertension?
An elevated clinic pressure, but normal ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Do NICE recommend treatment for white-coat hypertension?
No
What is the clinical significance of white-coat hypertension?
More likely to develop hypertension in the future, and may have an increased risk of CVD
What is masked hypertension?
When BP is normal in clinic, but high on ABPM
What is primary hypertension?
Hypertension when there is no identifable cause
What % of hypertension cases are primary hypertension?
95%
What are the causes of secondary hypertension?
- Renal disease
- Endocrine disease
- Coarction
- Pregnancy
- Liquorice
- Drugs
What drugs can cause hypertension?
- Steroids
- MAOIs
- Oral contraceptive pill
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
What is the most common cause of secondary hypertension?
Renal disease
What are the most common renal causes of hypertension?
- Intrinsic renal disease
- Renovascular disease
Give 5 intrinsic renal diseases that can cause hypertension
- Glomerulonephritis
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Systemic sclerosis
- Chronic pyelonephritis
- Polycystic kidneys
What % of renal induced hypertension cases are due to intrinsic renal disease?
75%
What renovascular disease can cause hypertension?
Most frequently atheromatous renovascular disease, or rarely fibromuscular dysplasia
What % of renal disease induced hypertensin is due to renovascular disease?
25%
What endocrine diseases can cause hypertension?
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Conn’s syndrome
- Phaeochromocyoma
- Acromegaly
- Hyperparathyroidism
What are the modifiable risk factors for hypertension?
- Excess weight
- Excess dietary salt intake
- Lack of physical activity
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Stress
What are the non-modifiable risk factors for hypertension?
- Older age
- Family history
- Ethnicity
- Male gender before 65, female gender after 65
What are the symptoms of hypertension?
Usually asymptomatic, however can look for symptoms of an underlying cause
Give 4 examples of symptoms of an underlying cause you could look for in hypertension
- Renal bruits
- Radiofemoral delay
- Palpable kidneys
- Signs of Cushing’s syndrome
How do you ensure you have the correct size cuff when measuring BP with a sphygmomanometer?
Check the cuff width is 40% of the arm circumference
What is the correct placement of a BP cuff?
The bladder of the cuff should be central over the brachial artery, and the cuff should be applied snuggly
What position should the arm be in when measuring BP with a sphygmomanometer?
The arm should be supported in a horizontal position at a mid-sternal level
How do you obtain an estimate of the systolic blood pressure when measuring BP with a sphygmomanometer?
You inflate the cuff whilst palpating the radial artery until the pulse disappears
Once you have obtained an estimate of the systolic blood pressure, how do you take an accurate reading when measuring BP with a sphygmomanometer?
You inflate the cuff until 30mmHg over the estimated systolic pressure, then place a stethoscope over the brachial artery, and deflate at 2mmHg/sec
What indicates the systolic pressure when measuring BP with a sphygmomanometer?
The appearance of sustained reptitive tapping sounds
What indicates the diastolic pressure when measuring BP with a sphygmomanometer?
The disappearance of sounds
How is hypertension investigated?
- ABPM or home monitoring
- Fasting glucose and cholesterol
- ECG or echo
- Urine analysis for protein or blood
- U&Es and calcium levels
- Renal artery ultrasound or arteriography
- MRI of aorta
What is the purpose of ABPM or home monitoring in the investigation of hypertension?
To confirm the diagnosis
What is the purpose of fasting glucose and cholesterol in the investigation of hypertension?
To help quantify overall risk
What is the purpose of ECG, echo, and urine analysis in the investigation of hypertension?
To assess for end-organ damage
What is the purpose of U&Es and calcium levels in the investigation of hypertension?
To exclude secondary causes
What is the purpose of renal artery ultrasound or arteriography in the investigation of hypertension?
To look for renal artery stenosis
What is the purpose of an MRI of the aorta in the investigation of hypertension?
To check for coarction
What is the treatment goal for hypertension?
<140/90mmHg
What is the treatment goal for hypertension in diabetes?
<130/90
What is the treatment goal for hypertension if over the age of 80?
<150/90
Why is it important to slowly reduce blood pressure in hypertension?
As rapid reduction can be fatal, especially in the context of an acute stroke
What are the approaches in the management of hypertension?
- Look for and treat underlying causes
- Lifestyle changes
- Drugs
When are lifestyle changes alone sufficient in the management of hypertension?
If the blood pressure is consistently above 140/90mmHg, but the risk of other problems is low
When should medication be given in addition to lifestyle changes in the management of hypertension?
- When the blood pressure is consistently above 140/90mmHg, and the risk of other problems is high
- If the blood pressure is consistently above 160/100mmHg