Hypertension Flashcards
risk factors for heart disease
modifiable: diet, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, physical activity, work, stress
non-modifiable: age, gender, race, personality type, family history
symptoms of hypertension
normally, none :)
but people can complain of headache, visual disturbances, chest pain, dyspnoea, palpitations, sweating, lower limb swelling, claudication, loss of consciousness, flushing, anxiety
history of presenting complaint in hypertension. what would you ask?
- have you ever checked your blood pressure?
- do you keep a record of your blood pressure throughout?
- how long have you been diagnosed with hypertension?
- are you on any anti-hypertensive treatment and do you take your medications?
cardiac risk factors
cardiovascular disease, renal disease, family history, glucose intolerance, dyslipidaemia, CVA/TIA, PVD
what is used to assess the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease
the European Low Risk Chart
things to evaluate when assessing a person’s lifestyle
social history: smoking, alcohol, recreational drug use, exercise, body weight, diet
- sleep history, erectile dysfunction, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia
- menopause
classifications of hypertension
primary and secondary
causes of secondary hypertension
- endocrine: primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn’s), hyperparathyroidism, phaeochromocytoma, hypercortisolism (Cushing’s), hyperthyroidism, acromegaly, congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- renal: renovascular disease, polycystic kidney disease, renal failure, chronic pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, SLE, renal tumours
- others: coarctation of the aorta, OSA, sympathetomimetic drugs, NSAIDs, OCP, recreational drugs like cocaine, meth and phencycline, pregnancy and preeclampsia
what to check for hypertension-mediated organ damage
heart, blood vessels, brain, eyes and kidneys
definition of hypertension
a sustained blood pressure of an SBP higher than 140mmHg and a DBP higher than 90mmHg
investigations for hypertension
bloods, urinanalysis, 12-lead ECG, ABPM/HBPM, echo, CXR, carotid ultrasound, ankle brachial pressure index, cognitive function, CT brain
classes of hypertension
high-normal: SBP >130 DBP >85
Stage I: SBP >140 DBP >90
Stage II: SBP >160 DBP >100
Stage III: SBP >180 DBP >110
management of hypertension
educate on lifestyle changes for every single stage of hypertension
start medicating Stage I patients if you see no hypertension control within 3 months of the diagnosis
start medicating ASAP in Stage II and Stage III patients
lifestyle advice to give
stop smoking, stop drinking, exercise more, eat a balanced diet, reduce salt intake, try to lose weight
drugs used in hypertension
- ACE inhibitors/ ARBs
- Beta blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- Thiazide-like diuretics
how to give drugs in hypertension
- start with dual-therapy with an ACEi (or ARB) and a CCB/diuretic
- if with step 1 hypertension is not controlled, add on the CCB or diuretic not used in step 1
- add on spironolactone, alpha blocker or another beta blocker
when to consider monotherapy
- Stage I hypertension
- in patients older than 80y or frail patients
device-based therapies for hypertension
- renal denervation
- carotid baroreceptor stimulation
- creation of an atrioventricular fistula
characteristics of malignant hypertension
- severe hypertension
- fundoscopic changes
- microangiopathy
- disseminated intravascular coagulation
- small artery necrosis in the kidney, retina and brain
how are hypertension and obesity linked?
- activation of the sympathetic nervous system
- activation of the RAS
- sodium retention
the link between leptin and hypertension
- contributes through the sympathetic activation via the hypothalamic pro-opiamelanocortin pathway
- relates to the activation of renal nerve traffic and to subsequent alteration of the P-natriuresis relationship
the link between hypertension and the RAAS pathway
the additional adipose tissue deposits will increase the production of renin, angiotensiogen and angiotensin II