Module 13 Flashcards
Elevated systemic arterial blood pressure.
HTN
Measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body
BP
BP is measured with this
Sphygmomanometer
When the heart contracts
systole
Period of time when the heart fills after a contractoin
Diastole
BP numbers Normal Pre-hypertension Stage 1 HTN Stage 2 HTN
< 120 and <80
120-139 or 80-89
140-159 or 90-99
>160 or >100
HTN of no known cause
The _____ of cases of HTN
Primary HTN
Majority of HTN cases
HTN with an identifiable cause.
Secondary HTN
What are the different causes of secondary HTN?
Kidney disease Hyperthyroidism Pregnancy Erythropoeitin Pheochromocytoma Sleep apnea Contraceptive use
Tumour on the adrenal gland that causes excess epinephrine release
Pheochromocytoma
What are three major factors that influence BP?
1 - The amount of water and salt in the body
2 - The condition of your kidneys, NS and blood vessels
3 - Hormone levels in the body
What are risk factors for HTN?
Obesity, stress, smoking, high salt, diet, diabetes, African descent
What are certain drugs that are known to cause HTN?
NSAIDs, oral contraceptives, and cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine
If untreated, HTN can cause these, potentially fatal consequences.
MI, kidney failure, stroke, retinal damage
Why is HTN called a silent killer?
Since many patients may have elevated BP for years before they show any symptoms
How does HTN affect the brain?
The brain swells and has multiple areas of hemorrhage
How does HTN affect the kidneys?
The vasculature of the kidney is dramatically constricted and the urine output is reduced
How does HTN affect the heart?
The heart is dilated (enlarged) and in cardiac failure
What are the determinants of BP?
Cardiac output and Peripheral (vascular) resistance
What is cardiac output determined by?
Heart rate, heart contractility, blood volume and venous return