Primary and Secondary Hypertension Flashcards
What is the difference between primary and secondary hypertension?
Primary - complex, multifactorial
Secondary - direct treatable cause
What is optimal blood pressure?
<80 diastolic
Why does diastolic pressure increase until age 50 and decline after age 50?
Vessels become stiffer and lose elasticity and cannot maintain the diastolic pressure
What is the best predictor of mortality due to hypertension?
Widened pulse pressure (systolic BP - diastolic BP)
Systolic increases, diastolic increases after age 50 because of stiffer vessels
What should normally happen to BP when asleep?
Nocturnal decline of BP (about 10%)
Loss of this decline is predictive of hypertensive events
Why is MAP not an accurate reflection of CV risk?
Can have a massive pulse pressure, but still a normal MAP
Hence, pulse pressure should be used instead
What is the definition of isolated systolic hypertension?
SBP >140 and DBP <90
Reflects widened pulse pressure due to stiffening of vessels with age
In early hypertensive, does CO or TPR contribute more to the elevated BP?
CO (better contraction of heart, less stiff vessels)
In late hypertensives, does CO or TPR contribute more to the elevated BP?
TPR (lesser contraction of heart, stiffer vessels)
What are the 3 major systems that regulate blood pressure?
Heart
Blood vessels
Kidney
Primary hypertension patients have at least one of 4 mechanisms involved, what are the 4 mechanisms?
Inability to handle sodium and water appropriately
Overactivity/overstimulation of sympathetic system
Defect in handling of intracellular calcium in vascular smooth muscle
Defect in RAAS
How does hypertension affect the eyes?
Retinal vein and artery thrombosis
AV nicking - enlarged artery crosses vein, indenting it
Copper wiring - can see enlarged artery on end
How does hypertension affect the heart?
Coronary artery disease
LV hypertrophy
Arrhythmias
Congestive heart failure
How does hypertension affect the kidney?
Renal failure
How does hypertension affect the vasculature?
Atherosclerosis
Peripheral vasculature disease
How does hypertension affect the CNS?
Strokes (ischemic or hemorrhagic)
What is the definition of malignant hypertension?
Severe increase in BP, especially DBP (know that DBP decreases after 50 so would see this in younger age groups)
What are the symptoms of hypertension?
NONE! Asymptomatic
What is the target BP in patients under age 60?
<140/90
What is the target BP in patients 60 and over?
<150/90
What are lifestyle modifications used to treat hypertension?
Weight reduction
Dietary sodium restriction
Increased physical activity
Moderation of alcohol/smoking
What categories of drugs are used to treat hypertension?
Diuretics
Sympatholytics
Vasodilators
RAS antagonists
How do diuretics help with hypertension?
Increased excretion of sodium and water
Decreased CO
How do sympatholytics (alpha and beta blockers) help with hypertension?
Prevent vasoconstriction
Decrease HR and sympathetic outflow
How do vasodilators help with hypertension?
Calcium channel blockers - prevent vasoconstriction
Direct vasodilators - cause vasodilation