Definitions & Values Flashcards
What is systolic pressure?
Force exerted by blood on artery walls at peak of L ventricular contraction. Higher of the 2 readings
What is diastolic pressure?
Force exerted on artery walls when heart is relaxed
What does arteriolar pressure depend on?
How hard heart is pumping
How much resistance in arteries
What things increase arteriolar resistance?
1) Decrease in artery diameter (e.g. atherosclerosis)
2) Walls stiff/rigid (as they age = stiffer)
3) Thicker/stickier blood (e.g. increase in RBC with polycythaemia - RBC have problems carrying O2 so produce more RBC)
4) Increase in blood volume (e.g. IV fluids or retaining fluids)
What are the 2 types of hypertension?
1) Essential (cause unknown)
2) Secondary (may be due to meds, kidney disease, hormone problems)
Give examples of:
- isolated high systolic pressure
- isolated high diastolic pressure
- both
- 180/70 (more important in terms of health risk)
- 130/100
- 170/110
What is the normal blood pressure range?
120 - 140 / 80 - 90 mm/Hg
What are the blood pressure grades for:
- mild
- moderate
- severe
- 140-159 / 90-99
- 160-179/ 100-109
- > or = 180/110
NICE guidelines for referral of patients according to BP:
>180 / >110
Refer to doctor on same day
Should be offered ABPM/HBPM
NICE guidelines for referral of patients according to BP:
160 - 179 / 100 - 109
Recheck x 3 over next 2 weeks then doctor’s appointment
Should be offered ABPM/HBPM
NICE guidelines for referral of patients according to BP:
140 - 159 / 90 - 99
Reassess x 3 weekly then doctor’s appointment
Should be offered ABPM/HBPM
NICE guidelines for referral of patients according to BP:
135 - 139 / 85 - 89
Lifestyle advice, reassess annually if no treatment or in 6 months on treatment
NICE guidelines for referral of patients according to BP:
Lifestyle advice, reassess in 5 years if no treatment, or 6 months on treatment
