1. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Group 4

2. Table of Contents What is the hypertension? What causes hypertension?
Who’s at risk?
What are some of the symptoms?
How is hypertension treated?
How can it be prevented?
Stats and research
Other information
References
Quiz

3. What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels
Blood pressure varies on each heartbeat between systolic (highest pressure) and diastolic (lowest pressure)
A blood pressure reading is given as systolic pressure/diastolic pressure

4. What is hypertension?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a noninfectious chronic disease that occurs when one’s blood pressure is above 120/80

5. What causes hypertension?
While the exact causes are unclear, many factors lead to the development of high blood pressure. These include:
Smoking
Obesity
Inactive lifestyle
Eating overly salty foods
More than 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks per day
Stress
Old age
Genetics/family history
Chronic Kidney Disease
Adrenal or thyroid disorders

6. Who’s at risk? Anyone can develop high blood pressure
The more risk factors a person has, the more likely they are to develop the condition
African Americans, pregnant women, and women on birth control also have a higher risk

7. What are some of the symptoms?
Often there are no symptoms or signs of high blood pressure, which is why it is important to get your blood pressure checked regularly

8. Symptoms (cont.)
However, some symptoms of extremely high BP can include
Severe headaches
Fainting
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Irregular heartbeat
Blood in the urine

9. How is hypertension treated?
Hypertension can be controlled with a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and follow-up treatments

10. Lifestyle Changes
Someone with hypertension must eliminate the risk factors from their lifestyle
These changes include quitting smoking, losing weight, limiting or eliminating alcohol consumption, eating healthy, and getting enough exercise

11. Drug Therapy
Usually the first choice of therapy are diuretics, or “water pills” that rid your body of excess salt and water through your urine
If this doesn’t work, there are also ACE inhibitors, ARBs, Beta-blockers, and Calcium channel blockers
For extremely high BP, two drugs may be prescribed at one time

12. Follow-up Treatment
The patient should follow up with their doctor once a month until their blood pressure goal is met
After that, they should meet once or twice a year to check that their blood pressure is healthy

13. Primary Prevention
Avoid the lifestyle risk factors that lead to hypertension:
Be active
Eat healthy
Don’t smoke
Don’t drink large amounts of alcohol

14. Secondary Prevention
Get your blood pressure checked regularly when you visit the doctor

15. Tertiary Prevention
Set up a plan with your doctor involving lifestyle changes and possibly medication
Follow-up on a regular schedule to make sure you stay on top of your plan

16. Statistics 1 in 4 American adults have hypertension
33% of those who have the condition are unaware of it
People with hypertension 4-6 times more likely to have a stroke

17. Other information
Hypertension can lead to strokes, heart attack, kidney failure, memory loss, and vision problems

18. References Cited
WebMD.com
AmericanHeart.org

19. Quiz! 1. What is blood pressure?
2. What are some hypertension risk factors?
3. How can you treat hypertension?
4. True or false? 1 in every 2 American adults have hypertension.
5. How can you know for sure if you have hypertension?