Hypertension

Question 1

hypertension

Answer 1

raised blood pressure

140/90 mmHg

Question 2

known risk factors for hypertension

Answer 2

age 
obesity 
genetics 
stress 
smoking 
side effect of medications 
race 
gender

Question 3

Ambulatory BP monitoring

Answer 3

allows lots of BP readings to be taken over 24 hours , shows how BP changes in a range of settings

Question 4

essential hypertension

Answer 4

no medical causes found for triggering , often due to genetics
also known as primary hypertension

Question 5

Why does hypertension increase the risk of congestive heart failure

Answer 5

hypertension = an increased work load for the heart and may overwhelm the cardiac muscle

Question 6

why does hypertension increase the risk of a cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

Answer 6

High BP puts extra pressure on vessels which may lead to clots forming and potentially travelling to brain
High BP may also cause trauma to a brain vessel resulting in a bleed in the brain (haemmorhage)

Question 7

rare triggers for hypertension

Answer 7

cushings syndrome (excess cortisol) - excess salt and water retention therefore excess fluid in circulation 
Renal Artery Stenosis - narrowing of artery allowing less blood flow into kidneys, kidneys autoregulation system thinks BP has dropped so RAAS system activated and salt and water retained increasing BP

Question 8

symptoms of hypertension

Answer 8

majority see no symptoms

occassionaly headache or mini stroke (transient ischaemic attack)

Question 9

secondary hypertension

Answer 9

caused by a medical condition e.g endocrine tumours , renal artery stenosis

Question 10

orthopnea

Answer 10

difficulty breathing when lying flat - watch this if lying back in dental chair