Hypertension

Hypertension  What is Blood Pressure?  What do Blood Pressure Numbers Mean?  Top number (Systolic)  Bottom number (Diastolic) mwhile heart is resting between beats

Hypertension  Normal Blood Pressure  High Blood Pressure

Hypertension SYMPTOMS!  “The Silent Killer”  May have:  Headache  Blurry vision  Chest Pain  Frequent urination at night

Hypertension  Blood Pressure Measurement  Blood Pressure Cuff Size

American Heart Association Recommended Blood Pressure Levels BP Category Systolic (mmHg) Diastolic (mmHg) Follow-up Optimal < 120and < 80Recheck 2 years Normal < 130and < 85Recheck 2 years High Normal or 85-89Recheck 1 year

American Heart Association Recommended Blood Pressure Levels BP Category Systolic (mmHg) Diastolic (mmHg) Follow-up Stage 1 (mild HTN) or Confirm within months Stage 2 (moderate HTN) or Evaluate within 1 month Stage 3 (severe HTN) 180 or > or 110 or > Evaluate immediately

 What Causes High Blood Pressure?  Cause unknown in 90 to 95% of cases = Primary Hypertension  Secondary Hypertension = 5 to 10%  Kidney Abnormalities  Narrowing of certain arteries  Rare tumors  Adrenal gland abnormalities  Pregnancy

 What Causes High Blood Pressure?  Controllable Risk Factors  Increased salt intake  Obesity  Alcohol  Stress  Lack of exercise

Hypertension  What Causes High Blood Pressure?  Uncontrollable Risk Factors  Heredity  Age  Men between age 35 and 50  Women after menopause  Race  1 out of every 3 African Americans  Higher incidence in non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans

Hypertension  Women and High Blood Pressure  Birth Control Pill  Pregnancy  Overweight  After Menopause  African Americans

Hypertension  What does High Blood Pressure do to my Body?  Stroke  Congestive heart failure  Kidney failure  Heart attack  Heart rhythm problems  Aneurysm

Hypertension  What Can I Do?  High blood pressure is a lifelong disease  Blood pressure can be controlled not cured  Controlling blood pressure will reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease

Hypertension  What Can I Do?  Loose weight if your overweight  Get regular physical activity  Avoid excessive alcohol  Stop smoking  Manage your stress

Hypertension  What Can I Do?  Decrease salt intake  Eat for heart health  Discuss the use of oral contraceptives with your doctor  Discuss the use of some medications with your doctor

Hypertension  Ten Commandments for Blood Pressure Control  Know your blood pressure  Have it checked regularly  Know what your weight should be  Keep it at that level or below  Don’t use excessive salt in cooking or at meals  Avoid salty foods 1 2 3

Hypertension  Ten Commandments for Blood Pressure Control  Eat a low-fat diet  According to AHA regulations  Don’t smoke cigarettes  Or use tobacco products  Take your medicine exactly as prescribed  Don’t run out of pills even for a single day 4 5

Hypertension  Ten Commandments for Blood Pressure Control  Keep your appointments with the doctor  Follow your doctors advice about exercise  Make certain family members have their blood pressure checked regularly  Live a normal life in every other way!

Hypertension  Medication for High Blood Pressure  Diuretics  Rid the body of excess fluids and salt  Beta-blockers  Reduce the heart rate and the work of the heart  Calcium antagonists  Reduce heart rate and relax blood vessels

Hypertension  Medication for High Blood Pressure  Angiotensin II receptor blockers(ACE)  Interfere with the bodies production of angiotensin, a chemical that causes the arteries to constrict (narrow)  Vasodialators  Cause the muscle in the wall of the blood vessels to relax, allowing the vessel to dialate (widen)

Hypertension  Medication for High Blood Pressure  Sympathetic nerve inhibitors  Sympathetic nerves go from the brain to all parts of the body, including the arteries  Cause arteries to constrict raising blood pressure  These drugs reduce blood pressure by inhibiting these nerves from constricting blood vessels

Hypertension  Home Blood Pressure Monitoring  Mercury sphygmomanometer  Standard for BP monitoring  No calibration  May be bulky  Need a second person to use machine  May be difficult for hearing impaired or patients with arthritis

Hypertension  Home Blood Pressure Monitoring  Aneroid equipment  Inexpensive, lightweight and portable  Two person operation/need stethoscope  Delicate mechanism, easily damaged  Needs calibration with mercury sphygmomanometer

Hypertension  Home Blood Pressure Monitoring  Automatic equipment  Contained in one unit  Portable with easy-to-read digital display  Expensive, fragile  Must be calibrated  Requires careful cuff placement