Hypertension

Question 1

How can hypertension be treated pharmacologically???

Answer 1

Regulating Cardiac Output (CO) or Peripheral Resistance (PR)

Question 2

What is Vascular Resistance???

Answer 2

The resistance in which the blood flows to arteries.

Also its inversely proportional to blood pressure.

Question 3

How is resistance changed???

Answer 3

Autonomic activity as the sympathetic nervous system constricts peripheral
arteries.

Blood viscosity

Question 4

What can untreated hypertension lead to???

Answer 4

Atherosclerosis
Heart Attack
Enlarged heart
Kidney damage
Stroke
Blindness

Question 5

What are some risk factors of hypertension???

Answer 5

High normal blood pressure
History of hypertension from the family
Overweight
Salt sensitivity
Lack of exercise
African ancestry

Question 6

What are the causes of hypertension???

Answer 6

Primary cause:
Not really known

Secondary cause:
Endocrine dysfunctions e.g. Cushing’s syndrome, Pheochromocytoma, Conn’s disease, Adrenal hyperplasia, Acromegaly.

Renal disease:
Renovascular disease, artery stenosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, chronic glomerulonephritis, polycystic
kidney disease.

Drugs e.g. steroids, oral contraceptive pills, carbenoxolone.

Question 7

What other factors can play a hand in hypertension???

Answer 7

Genetics - In the family generations
Fetal - Low birth weight
Environmental - Obesity, high intake of alcohol, high sodium intake.
Pregnancy - Hypertension of pregnancy

Question 8

What kind of diseases can hypertension lead to???

Answer 8

Coronary heart disease
Left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure
Cerebrovascular disease (Stroke)
Peripheral vascular disease
Proteinuria and renal disease
Retinopathy

Question 9

How prevalent is hypertension???

Answer 9

20-30% of the adult population.

Maybe be 40 -45% for black Africans.

Question 10

What is the pharmacological treatment for hypertension???

Answer 10

ACE inhibitors / AT1-antagonists
Beta-blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics

Question 11

What is the more preferred definition of hypertension???

Answer 11

“The level of blood pressure above which the
benefits of investigation and treatment outweigh
the risks.”

Question 12

What is considered high blood pressure???

Answer 12

A systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130-139 mmHg.
OR
A diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 85-89 mmHg.