HTN Flashcards
1. Understand how a diagnosis of HTN is made 2. Illustrate the possible outcomes of uncontrolled HTN 3. Understand the differences between essential and secondary hypertension and know potential causes of secondary hypertension 4. Be able to discuss hypertensive emergencies and urgencies as well as possible medication and behavioral treatment options. 5. Select appropriate treatment options for hypertensive patients given compelling indications. 6. Compare various classes of drugs used to
Risk Factors that can worsen prognosis of HTN
- Youth
- Male
- Persistent DBP >115 mm Hg
- African Descent
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Hyperlipidemia
- Obesity
- Excessive EtOH intake
- Evidence of End-Organ Damage
True or False: Most patients with hypertension have no specific symptoms and are diagnosed at time of physical examination.
TRUE
Starting from _________ mm Hg, heart disease risk DOUBLES with each increment of ______ mm Hg
115/75
20/10
What percent of adults >20 years have htn?
33%
_____% of deaths are related to HTN?
15%
Of the 33% of all adults with htn, how many are aware they have this condition?
83%
Of the 83% of adults who are aware they have htn, how many have it well controlled?
53%
What are some adverse effects that htn can have on the heart?
hypertrophy, HF, CAD, increased O2 demand
What are some adverse effects that htn can have neurologically?
retinopathy, headache, CVA (hemorrhagic or ischemic), encephalopathy
If you have encephalopathy from HTN, its probably pretty serious. 1) What is this called? and 2) What are some symptoms?
PRES–posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Presents with malignant htn, AMS (altered mental status), papilledema, seizure
10% of death from HTN is caused by _______________
renal failure
Do you give medications for prehypertension?
Only if there is a “compelling indication”
What are the compelling indications for treating htn?
HF, MI, CAD, DM, CKD, CVA
Blood pressure > ___/___ typically requires multidrug therapy
160/90 (aka stage II htn)
Essential, or primary, hypertention accounts for ____% of all htn.
94%
Secondary hypertension could be caused by what other problems? (10)
smoking, ETOH, drugs (rx), thyroid/parathyroid, coarctation of aorta, OSA, Pheochromocytoma, aldosteronism, steroid problem/cushings, CKD
What presentation of hypertension would raise a red flag to consider a diagnosis of SECONDARY htn?
Patient INITIALLY presents with:
1) stage II htn
2) renal failure
3) abrupt increase in BP
4) onset younger than age 50
5) resistant htn (not responding to 3 drugs including a thiazide)
When should you start screening for htn?
Age 20
How often should you screen for htn for a patient whose BP is < 120/80? What about a patient whose pressure is borderline or higher?
2 years if normal, yearly if high
If there is a narrow pulse pressure, wait…what is a pulse pressure?
Ex: 120/80, pulse pressure is 120-80 = 40
If there is a narrow pulse pressure, what might that indicate?
valve problem, HF
Can you make a diagnosis of htn after a single BP reading if the reading is > 160/90?
No.