1. Hypertension

2. Hypertension High blood pressure Also known as the silent killer Why?
Of the 50 million hypertensive people in the US, only 23 million are aware of it

3. Can Result In:
Heart attacks
Strokes
Kidney disease

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5. It affects all age groups and both genders

6. Factors that Contribute to Hypertension:
1. Obesity:
The heart must work harder to nourish the extra mass
It takes about 3.5 miles of blood vessels to nourish one pound of fat

7. However, you cannot just look at someone body weight and assume they are hypertensive.

8. 2. Heredity:
Tends to run in families

9. 3. Diet:
High sodium (salt) intake
NaCl and H2O work together—if you take in a lot of salt (NaCl), H2O rushes in as well

10. 5. Stress:
Long term mental stress can contribute to high bp
6. Unknown:
Most cases have no specific cause (essential hypertension)

11. What is a normal range for blood pressure?
120/80mmHg

12. The top number is called the systolic (reading) pressure
Systolic: pressure against the artery wall when the heart is contracting

13. The bottom number is called the diastolic pressure
Diastolic: pressure against the artery wall when the heart is at rest

14. The numbers may be interpreted as the force of blood against the artery wall
mmHg stands for millimeters of mercury
120/80 means there is enough force (from the heart) to drive a column of mercury up 120mm upon contraction and 80mm just before rest

15. Aside: Stephen Hale

16. 140/90mmHg considered hypertensive
140/90—120/80mmHg considered pre-hypertensive
Medical community is thinking about treating anyone with high bp with medication. Why?

17. Blood pressure is measured with a device called a sphygmomanometer

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20. Treatment of Hypertension
Besides the obvious: Diet and Exercise

21. Treatment of Hypertension
Medication:
#1 treatment
Wide range of drugs from over the counter to strong prescriptions

22. Medications for Hypertension
A. Diuretics:
Water pills—stimulate the kidney to remove water and salt from the circulatory system
Very efficient and inexpensive

23. Medications for Hypertension
B. Beta blockers: Blocks adrenaline effects so bp does not rise
Common treatment for anyone who has experienced a heart attack

24. Beta blockers ©http://www.skyaid.org/images/betablocker0.gif

25. C. Calcium channel blockers:
Prevent calcium from entering the artery muscle cells
Does not allow the muscle cells to be in constant contraction

26. How to Take Blood Pressure
1. Place cuff on person’s upper arm
2. Place the stethoscope under the cuff

27. 3. Inflate the cuff to just over 180mmHg
4. Do NOT inflate the cuff over 200mmHg
This collapses the major arteries to the arm

28. 5. Slowly release air by turning the air valve a half turn
The first sound that you hear is the systolic pressure (note the pressure on the gauge)
The last sound that you hear is the diastolic pressure