Hypertension Flashcards
Exam 1/ Ch 30 Cardiovascular
What is the most frequently encountered health issue in primary care?
Hypertension
Hypertension is also known as ….
high blood pressure
If left untreated hypertension can lead to what health conditions?
stroke, heart attack, kidney failure or death
What do the latest guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend to maintain the blood pressure below for everyone?
130/ 80 mm Hg
For patients whose bp exceeds the target of 130/80 mm Hg what do the guidelines advocate for?
treatment with medication and lifestyle changes
Any factor that increases peripheral vascular resistance, HR or SV raises what?
systemic arterial pressure
Any factor that decreases peripheral vascular resistance, HR, or SV lowers what?
systemic arterial pressure
What can result when systemic arterial pressure is lowered?
reduced tissue perfusion
What are the 4 major control systems in regulating bp?
-the arterial baroreceptor system
-regulation of body fluid volume
-the renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system
-vascular auto-regulation
Where are the arterial baroreceptors located?
the carotid sinus, aorta, and the left ventricle wall
What do the arterial baroreceptors monitor?
arterial pressure and counteract increases in it
The reason baroreceptor control fails in hypertension?
is not well understood
What changes impact systemic arterial pressure?
fluid volume changes
If the kidneys function properly an increase in systemic arterial pressure leads to what?
diuresis or excessive urination and a subsequent decrease in pressure
The kidneys produce what?
renin
What does renin transform angiotensinogen into?
angiotensin II
Angiotensin II is a potent what?
vasoconstrictor
Angiotensin II regulates the release of what?
aldosterone
Aldosterone acts on the kidneys to reabsorb what?
sodium
Sodium retention in the kidneys prevents what? increases what?
fluid loss; blood volume and blood pressure
Normally, when BP is high, renin levels should decrease… however in most individuals with essential hypertension what happens?
Renin levels remain normal
What maintains relatively constant tissue perfusion?
vascular auto-regulation
Although auto-regulation maintains relatively constant tissue perfusion what role does it play in essential hypertension?
causes it, and reasons are unknown how this system operates
What 4 categories is BP classified?
normal, elevated/ prehypertension, stage 1 or stage 2
all categories can be essential or primary or secondary
The most common type of hypertension and is not caused by an existing health condition?
essential hypertension
Essential hypertension can lead to damage of what?
vital organs
Essential hypertension can lead to what conditions?
heart attacks, strokes, peripheral vascular diseases or kidney failure
How does secondary hypertension occur?
when specific diseases or medications contribute to elevated bp
A severe form of high BP that progresses rapidly and is a medical emergency is what?
hypertensive crisis or malignant hypertensive
What are some symptoms of hypertensive crisis/ malignant hypertension?
morning headaches, blurred vision, dyspnea, or signs of uremia (late stage kidney disease)
Hypertensive crisis/ malignant hypertension is characterized by a systolic blood pressure above what? and a diastolic blood pressure exceeding what?
*systolic blood pressure >200 mm Hg
*diastolic blood pressure > 150 mm Hg
WIthout prompt intervention a hypertensive crisis can lead to what?
kidney failure, left ventricular heart failure, or stroke
What can develop when a patient has one or more of these risk factors: family hx of hypertension, African-American ethnicity, hyperlipidemia, smoking, age over 60, postmenopausal status, excessive sodium and caffeine intake, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, low intake of potassium, calcium, or magnesium; and chronic stress
essential hypertension
What is a leading cause of secondary hypertension?
kidney disease
When does renovascular hypertension occur?
when one or more of the main arteries supplying blood to the kidneys narrow.
Many patients can reduce their need for antihypertensive medications after undergoing what?
angioplasty with stent placement to dilate the narrowed arteries
Dysfunction of the adrenals can also lead to what due to excess production of aldosterone, cortisol, or catecholamines?
secondary hypertension
What medications can cause secondary hypertension?
estrogen and steroids
What is likely the most common cause of secondary hypertension in women?
estrogen-containing oral contraceptives
What is a global epidemic?
hypertension
Up until age 45, a higher percentage of whom have hypertension?
Men
Between what ages are the rates of hypertension equal in men and women?
45- 64
The percentage of women with hypertension surpasses men after what age?
after 64
In the US, the prevalence of hypertension in what race is among the highest in the world and continues to rise?
African- Americans
When do African- Americans tend to develop high BP?
early in life
What does the fact that African-Americans tend to develop high BP earlier in life significantly increase their risk of?
death from strokes, heart disease, and kidney disease
What can lead to significant reductions in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality?
controlling hypertension
Evidence-Based Dietary and exercise practices that can help lower BP include:
*Achieving weight reduction through lifestyle changes, combining reduced caloric intake with increased physical activity.
*Reducing dietary sodium intake, aiming for an optimal goal of less than 1500 mg daily.
*Following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension or DASH diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and increases the intake of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and fiber.
*Increasing physical activity through aerobic exercise, resistance training, and static isometric exercises.
What are some modifiable risk factors that you can educate your patients on regarding hypertension?
smoking cessation and stress management
Most patients with hypertension do not exhibit symptoms, however, some may…. what are they?
headaches, facial flushing, dizziness, or fainting
When assessing your patient for orthostatic hypotension… in what position should your patient be in when you take the first reading?
supine or sitting
After waiting how long should you take the 2nd BP reading when assessing your patient for orthostatic hypotension? What position should they be in?
3 minutes; standing
What is indicated by decreased blood pressure when the patient changes position from lying to sitting to standing?
orthostatic hypotension
Although no lab tests can diagnose essential hypertension, several lab tests can assess for possible causes of secondary hypertension such as?
protein and RBCs in urine; elevated BUN & serum creatinine levels – kidney disease (the creatinine clearance test indicates the glomerular filtration ability of the kidneys)
The expected outcome of health teaching on hypertension is?
that the patient with hypertension understands and articulates their personalized plan of care for managing hypertensioin
The primary collaborative concerns for most patients with hypertension include?
*the need for health education related to the hypertension management plan
*the potential for reduced adherence to treatment due to the side effects of medication and the required lifestyle changes
What is the cornerstone of hypertension management?
lifestyle modifications
If lifestyle modifications are not effective, what may the primary care provider consider?
antihypertensive medications
What should the patient be educated in regards to management of hypertension?
*Restrict dietary sodium according to ACC/AHA guidelines.
*Reduce weight if overweight or obese.
*Adopt a heart-healthy diet, such as the DASH diet.
*Increase physical activity through a structured exercise program.
*Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
*Quit smoking and avoid tobacco use.
*Practice relaxation techniques to manage stress.
Is there a surgical treatment for essential hypertension?
No
Is there a surgical treatment for secondary hypertension?
in certain cases- yes
What herb may help lower cholesterol and BP in patients with hypertension?
garlic
What does garlic do to patients taking anticoagulants?
increases the risk of bleeding and may interfere with the effectiveness of certain medications.
Some patients have found success incorporating what into their hypertension management plan? For whom can these methods also be helpful for?
biofeedback, mediation, and acupuncture; those experiencing chronic and severe stress
Drug therapy should be what to each patient?
tailored
What should be considered when tailoring drug therapy for each patient?
culture, age, coexisting conditions, severity of BP elevation, and cost of medications; and follow-up care
What kind of drug regimen is preferable, especially for older adults?
once-a-day
Why is once-a-day drug regimen preferable for older adults?
fewer daily doses reduce the risk of non-adherence
Many patients with hypertension require ____ or ________ medications to achieve adequate BP control.
2 or more
Another expected outcome is that the patient with hypertension is expected to adhere to what?
their plan of care, including necessary lifestyle changes
Patients with essential hypertension prescribed medication often need what?
continue treatment for life
Do patients with essential hypertension that are to continue their medication treatment for life, adhere to this care plan?
They may discontinue due to the absence of symptoms or bothersome side effects
Interprofessional collaboration with a pharmacist can help patients understand what outcome?
their therapy including potential side effects, and tailor the treatment regime to fit their lifestyle and daily schedule
Patients who do not adhere to antihypertensive treatment are at an increased risk for what?
target organ damage and hypertensive crisis that can cause organ damage in the kidneys or heart
A gradual reduction in systolic blood pressure is preferred (in a crisis), as rapid lowering can cause what?
cerebral ischemia, heart attack, and renal failure
Patients in hypertensive crisis who are admitted to an ICU unit will get what kind of antihypertensive medications until they are stable.. then they will receive what?
IV; oral
When caring for patients with hypertensive crisis, assess for symptoms such as?
headache, extremely high BP, dizziness, blurred vision, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, or severe anxiety
Nursing care for a patient going through hypertensive crisis-
*place the patient in semi-Fowler position
*administer oxygen
*administer an IV beta blocker, nicardipine, or other infusion drug as prescribed; one stable transition to oral antihypertensive medication
* monitor BP every 5 to 15 mins until diastolic pressure is below 90 but not less than 75; then monitor BP every 30 min to ensure it is not lowered too quickly
*watch for neurological or cardiovascular complications, such as seizures; numbness, weakness, or tingling in extremities; dysrhythmias; or chest pain
the expected outcomes for patients with hypertension would be:
*clearly articulate their understanding of the care plan, including medication and required lifestyle changes
*promptly report any adverse drug effects, such as coughing, dizziness, or sexual dysfunction, to their primary healthcare provider
*consistently adhere to the care plan, including attending regular follow-up appointments with their primary healthcare provider
Purposes of Diuretics
-reduce hypertension (blood pressure)
-decrease edema (in conditions such as heart failure and renal or liver disorders)
types of diuretics
*thiazide and thiazide-like
*loop
*osmotic
*potassium-sparing
diuretics increase what?
urine production/ diuresis
The body’s extracellular fluid is filtered through the kidneys how often?
approx. every 1.5 hrs
How do diuretics lower blood pressure?
by promoting sodium and water loss, reducing fluid volume (thus decreasing BP)
Diuretics often lead to a loss of what along with fluid loss?
electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, chloride, and bicarbonate)
Diuretics that increase potassium loss are known as what?
potassium- wasting diuretics
Diuretics that increase retention of potassium are called what?
potassium-sparing diuretics
Thiazide diuretics are used to manage what?
hypertension and peripheral edema
Thiazide diuretics are not suitable for what?
immediate diuresis, especially in patients with severe renal impairment
Best suited for patients with normal renal function.