Hypertension Flashcards
Define hypertension
A disorder in which the level of sustained arterial pressure is higher than expected for the age, sex and race of the individual
What is salt sensitive hypertension?
- increase in dietary salt leads to an increase in BP
Name some causes of secondary hypertension?
- renal disease
- endocrine disease
- aortic disease
- renal artery stenosis
- drug therapy
How does conns syndrome cause hypertension?
- causes the production of excess aldosterone
Describe benign hypertension?
- it is asymptomatic and is an incidental finding on health checks
- it is a cause of serious life threatening morbidity
How does hypertension affect the heart?
- causes left ventricular hypertrophy
Describe malignant hypertension?
- serious life threatening condition that can develop from either benign or secondary hypertension
- needs urgent treatment to prevent death
How must hypertension be diagnosed?
- using ABPM or home BP monitoring
describe stage 1 hypertension
clinic BP of 140/90
day time average of 135/85
describe stage 2 hypertension
clinic BP of 160/100 or higher
day time BP of 150/95 or higher
What tests should be offered to all patients diagnosed with hypertension?
- test urine for presence of protein
- take blood to measure glucose, electrolytes, creatine, cholesterol
- examine funds for hypertensive retinopathy
- arrange a 12 lead ECG
What is the main driver of absolute risk in hypertension?
AGE
What is fibromuscular dysplasia and how does it cause hypertension
- mostly seen in young women with high BP
- causes a narrowing of the renal arteries which causes higher pressure on artery walls leading to hypertension
What is phaechromocytoma?
rare tumours of the adrenal glands which can be a cause of secondary hypertension
What should be the drug treatment of choice for a patient under 55 with hypertension?
- ACE inhibitor
- then ACEI + calcium antagonist
- then ACEI+calcium antagonist+thiazide diuretic
