Chapter 27 Hypertension Flashcards
Hypertension (HTN)
A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high
What are the parameters to diagnose hypertension?
Must be based on an average of 2+ accurate readings taken between 1-4 weeks apart
Blood Pressure (BP)
The pressure that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it passes through them
Systolic BP (SBP)
Arterial pressure when the heart contracts
Diastolic Pressure (DBP)
Arterial pressure when the heart relaxes and fills with blood
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
Average pressure w/in the artery during one full cardiac cycle
Ambulatory BPM
Assesses daytime & nighttime BP during routine daily activities typically, for one 24 hr period
Home BPM
Assesses BP at specific times during the day & night over a longer period while the patient is seated & resting
Normal BP Reading
Systolic: Less than 120 mmHg
Diastolic: Less than 80 mmHg
Elevated BP Reading
Systolic: 120-129 mmHg
and
Diastolic: Less than 80 mmHg
HTN Stage 1 BP Reading
Systolic: 130-139 mmHg
or
Diastolic: 80-89 mmHg
HTN Stage 2 BP Reading
Systolic: 140-159 mmHg
or
Diastolic: 90-99 mmHg
Hypertensive Crisis
Systolic: Higher than 180 mmHg
and/or
Diastolic: Higher than 120 mmHg
With which type of patients, would you see hypertensive crisis occur in?
Secondary HTN
Poorly controlled HTN
Undiagnosed HTN
Abrupt discontinuation or non adherence of med->rebound hypertension
Hypertensive Urgency
BP is severely elevated: SBP >180 mmHg or DBP >120 mmHg, in stable patient w/ NO EVIDENCE of impending target organ damage
Nursing Considerations for Hypertensive Urgency
Explore reason for nonadherence
* Finances, anxiety, misunderstandings, miscommunication, drug side
effects, or recreational drug use
* Use team approach and mobilize resources to prevent nonadherence
from continuing or recurring
Frequency of vital signs assessment based on clinical judgement
and varies with patient’s condition
* Every 5 mins with rapidly changing BP is appropriate
* Every 15 or 30mins in a more stable situation should be sufficient
Treatment for Hypertensive Urgency
Restart antihypertensive meds or increase dosages
Hypertensive Emergency
BP is extremely elevated >180/120 mm Hg with new or worsening target organ damage:
* Hypertensive encephalopathy
* Ischemic stroke
* Myocardial infarction
* Heart failure with pulmonary edema
* Dissecting aortic aneurysm
* Renal failure
Nursing Considerations for Hypertensive Emergency
Rapid, focused assessment needed to determine possible cause and target organ involvement:
* Aortic Dissection – goal is to reduce SBP to <120 mmHg within the first hour of treatment
* Severe Preeclampsia/Eclampsia or Pheochromocytoma Crisis – goal is to reduce SBP to <140 mm Hg with first hour of treatment
* Goal for other cases of HTN emergency
* Reduce SBP by no more than 25% in first hour of treatment
* If stable, reduce to 160/100 mm Hg within the next 2-6 hours
* End goal of normal, controlled BP within 24-48 hours of initial treatment
ICU admission required for frequent and continuous monitoring of BP and cardiovascular status
Antihypertensive medication of choice
* IV meds such as nicardipine, labetalol, esmolol, nitroglycerin, and nitroprusside
Hypertension Risk Factors
Advancing Adult Age
Ethnicity: African-American
Chronic kidney disease
Diabetes
Excess alcohol consumption
Family History
Gender:
-Men have greater risk until age of 64 yrs old
-Women have greater risk at 65 yrs old and up
Hypercholesterolemia
Obesity
Poor diet habits: Excess salt intake, limited intake of veggies, fiber, fish fats, & potassium
Sedentary lifestyle
Use of tobacco & nicotine prods & exposure to 2nd hand smoke
Sleep apnea
Stress
In which ethnic group, is hypertension most prevalent?
African Americans
Primary/Essential HTN
High BP due to an unknown cause, usually due to multitude of co-morbidities
Secondary Hypertension
High BP due to an identifiable cause
Indications for Secondary HTN Screening
New-onset of high BP
Poorly controlled HTN
HTN resistant to 3 or more drugs
Abrupt onset of HTN
Patients younger than 30 yrs old
Conditions Associated w/New Diagnosis of HTN
Excessive target organ damage
Cerebral Vascular Disease
Retinopathy
LT ventricular hypertrophy
HF w/preserved ejection fraction
Coronary artery disease
CKD
Peripheral arterial disease
Formula to Calculate BP
BP = CO (Cardiac Output) X R (Resistance)
Systemic Vascular Resistance
The pressure in the peripheral blood vessels that the heart must overcome to pump blood into the system
Formula to Calculate Cardiac Output (CO)
CO = HR (Hear rate) X SV (Stroke volume)
Cardiac Output (CO)
The amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute
Stroke Volume (SV)
The amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each contraction
How does increased venous return increase stroke volume?
More fluid in the vasculature
Factors that can Cause Hypertension
Increase in CO (usually rel to expansion in vascular volume)
Increase in peripheral resistance (constriction of blood vessels)
In order for hypertension to occur…
… there must be a change in 1 or more factors affecting peripheral resistance or cardiac output
Additionally, there must be a problem w/ the body’s monitoring/pressure regulation control system
Common Causes of Secondary HTN
CKD
Cushing’s syndrome
Hyperaldosteronism
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypo/Hyperthyroidism
NSAID/Substance abuse
Obstructive sleep apnea
Preeclampsyia
Polycystic kidney disease
Renal artery stenosis
Physiological Processes that can Lead to Hypertension
Increased SNS activity due to ANS dysfunction
Increased renal absorption of Na+, Cl-, & water due to genetic variation in pathways in how kidneys handle sodium
Increased RAAS system activity-> extracellular fluid volume expansion & increased systemic vascular resistance
Decreased vasodilation of the arterioles due to vascular endothelium dysfunction
Insulin resistance
Activation of the innate & adaptive components of the immune response that contribute to vascular inflammation & dysfunction