Hypertension Flashcards
What is hypertension?
It is a condition in which individuals have a chronically raised blood pressure
What is the normal blood pressure?
Systolic blood pressure = 90 – 140mmHg
Diastolic blood pressure = 60 – 90mmHg
What are the two main causes of hypertension?
Essential hypertension
Secondary hypertension
What cause of hypertension is more common?
Essential hypertension (95%)
What is another term for essential hypertension?
Primary hypertension
What is essential hypertension?
It means that the hypertension has developed on its own and does not have a secondary cause
What are the five risk factors of essential hypertension?
Family History
Increased Age
Black Ethnicity
Obesity
Alcoholism
What is secondary hypertension?
It means that the hypertension is due to secondary disease
It is important to note that the removal of the secondary cause doesn’t guarantee resolution of the hypertension, it will just improve blood pressure
What are the five secondary diseases that cause hypertension?
ROPED
Renal disease
Obesity
Pregnancy/Pre-eclampsia
Endocrine disease
Drugs
What four renal diseases are associated with secondary hypertension?
Glomerulonephritis
Chronic pyelonephritis
Adult polycystic kidney disease
Renal artery stenosis
What six endocrine diseases are associated with secondary hypertension?
Primary hyperaldosteronism
Phaeochromocytoma
Cushing’s syndrome
Liddle’s syndrome
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (11-beta hydroxylase deficiency)
Acromegaly
What is the most common cause of secondary hypertension?
Primary hyperaldosternosim
What is the most common cause of primary hyperaldosteronism?
Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia
What is the first line investigation in suspected primary hyperaldosteronism?
Plasma aldosterone:renin ratio
What five drugs can cause secondary hypertension?
Steroids
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Combined oral contraceptive pill
NSAIDs
Leflunomide
In which patients should we consider secondary hypertension?
It should be considered in individuals who present with an acute onset of hypertension at a young age
How does hypertension typically present?
Asymptomatically
At what blood pressure reading can hypertension become symptomatic?
> 200/120 mmHg
What are the three clinical features of hypertension?
Seizures
Headaches
Visual disturbances
What three investigations are used to diagnose hypertension?
Clinic Blood Pressure Readings
24 Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure
Home Blood Pressure Readings
What is a 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure?
It is 30 blood pressure measurements which are taken over 24 hours
What is the gold standard investigation used to diagnose hypertension?
Home blood pressure readings over a period of seven days, in which the patient records blood pressure readings morning and night
What clinical blood pressure result indicates prehypertension?
Systolic = 120-139mmHg
OR
Diastolic = 80-89mmHg
What clinical blood pressure result indicates stage one hypertension?
> 140/90mmHg
Systolic = 140 - 159mmHg
OR
Diastolic = 90 - 99mmHg
What ambulatory/home blood pressure result indicates stage one hypertension?
> 135/85mmHg
Systolic = 135 - 149mmHg
OR
Diastolic = 85 - 94mmHg
What clinical blood pressure result indicates stage two hypertension?
> 160/100mHg
What ambulatory/home blood pressure result indicates stage two hypertension?
> 150/95mmHg
What is white coat hypertension?
This is when patients have an elevated clinic blood pressure but normal ABPM/home blood pressure readings