Click to Visit Pharmapproach Marketplace Click to Visit Pharmapproach Marketplace Click to Visit Pharmapproach Marketplace
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
Monday, January 18, 2021
Pharmapproach.com
  • Home
  • Post Categories
    • Pharmaceutical Technology
    • Clinical Pharmacy
    • Pharmaceutical Microbiology
    • Pharmacology
    • Pharmaceutics
    • Pharmacy Management
    • Pharma Companies
    • Articles
    • Pharmatips
    • Pharmaceutical Machines
  • Pharma MarketplaceNew!
Post Ads For Free
Pharmapproach.com
  • Home
  • Post Categories
    • Pharmaceutical Technology
    • Clinical Pharmacy
    • Pharmaceutical Microbiology
    • Pharmacology
    • Pharmaceutics
    • Pharmacy Management
    • Pharma Companies
    • Articles
    • Pharmatips
    • Pharmaceutical Machines
  • Pharma MarketplaceNew!
Post Ads For Free
Pharmapproach.com
No Result
View All Result

Everything You Need to Know About Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

by Pharmapproach
September 26, 2020
in Clinical Pharmacy
0
0
SHARES
231
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Hypertension also known as high blood pressure (HBP) is a very common condition and an important risk factor for the future development of cardiovascular disease. It can be defined as a disturbance in the circulatory function associated with a persistent elevation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) above normal or to a level likely to lead to adverse consequences.

The actual level of pressure that can be considered hypertensive is difficult to define; it depends on a number of factors, including the patient’s age, sex, race, and lifestyle. As a working definition, many cardiovascular treatment centres consider that a systolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 90 mm Hg represents hypertension.

Contents

  • 1 Types of hypertension
  • 2 Causes of high blood pressure
  • 3 Symptoms of high blood pressure
  • 4 How should blood pressure be measured?
  • 5 Understanding blood pressure readings
  • 6 Management of hypertension
  • 7 References

Types of hypertension

There are two broad classifications of hypertension based on aetiology

  1. Primary or essential hypertension and
  2. Secondary hypertension.

Primary or essential hypertension occurs when the cause is not identifiable. Patients with secondary hypertension have identifiable pathology responsible for their chronically elevated blood pressure (BP).

Other types of hypertension include: white-coat hypertension, resistant hypertension, isolated systolic hypertension, and hypertensive crisis

Read Also: Understanding the Various Types of Hypertension

Causes of high blood pressure

The cause of 90 – 95 % cases of hypertension (essential hypertension) is unknown. The remaining 5 – 10 % of cases is secondary to some other disease conditions. Such causes include:

  1. chronic kidney disease (CKD)
  2. renovascular disease
  3. coarctation of the aorta
  4. pheochromocytoma
  5. primary aldosteronism
  6. sleep apnea
  7. hyperparathyroidism
  8. hyperthyroidism and
  9. Cushing syndrome.

Other cardiovascular risk factors include smoking, alcoholism and some drugs.

Read Also: 16 Drugs That May Increase Blood Pressure

Symptoms of high blood pressure

Hypertension is asymptomatic in most cases and is often, therefore, an incidental finding when patients present with unrelated conditions or may be identified during a cardiovascular risk assessment. Patients with secondary hypertension may have symptoms of the underlying disorder. For example, patients with pheochromocytoma may have

  1. headache
  2. sweating
  3. tachycardia
  4. palpitations, and
  5. orthostatic hypotension

Patients with Cushing syndrome in addition to classic features (moon face, buffalo hump, and hirsutism) may have

  1. weight gain
  2. polyuria
  3. oedema
  4. menstrual irregularities
  5. recurrent acne
  6. muscular weakness

In primary aldosteronism, hypokalemic symptoms of muscle cramps and weakness may be present.

How should blood pressure be measured?

  • Blood pressure should be measured after the patient has emptied their bladder and has been seated for five minutes with back supported and legs resting on the ground (not crossed).
  • Arm used for measurement should rest on a table, at heart-level.
  • Use a sphygmomanometer/stethoscope or automated electronic device (preferred) with the correct size arm cuff.
  • Take two readings one to two minutes apart, and average the readings (preferred).
  • Measure blood pressure in both arms at initial evaluation. Use the higher reading for measurements thereafter.

Understanding blood pressure readings

The table below defines blood pressure readings for adults (age 18 years and older)

ClassificationSystolic blood pressure (mmHg)Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)
Normal<120and <80
Prehypertension120–139or 80–89
Stage 1 hypertension140–159or 90–99
Stage 2 hypertension≥160or ≥100

Note: If systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are in different categories, the overall classification is determined based on the higher of the two blood pressure categories.

Management of hypertension

Hypertension is treated with both lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy. The overall goal in the management of hypertension is to reduce associated morbidity and mortality (also called cardiovascular or CV events) by the least intrusive means possible.

Most patients with hypertension including those with diabetes or chronic kidney disease (CKD) under age 60 years have recommended BP goal of less than 140/90 mm Hg. Lower goals may be an option in certain populations. Elderly patients (age > 60 years) have a BP goal of less than 150/90 mm Hg.

The JNC-8 is considered the “gold standard” consensus guidelines for the management of hypertension in the United States.

Read Also: Nonpharmacologic approach/ Nondrug approach of managing hypertension

References

  • Antman, E. and Sabatine, M. (2013). Cardiovascular Therapeutics: A Companion to Braunwald’s Heart Disease (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders.
  • James, P., Oparil S., Carter B., Cushman W., Dennison-Himmelfarb C., Handler J. et al. (2014) Evidence-based guidelines for the management of high blood pressure in adults. JAMA, 311(5):507–520.
  • Wells, B., DiPiro, J., Schwinghammer, T. and DiPiro, C. (2017). Pharmacotherapy Handbook. (10th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Whittlesea, C. and Hodson, K. (2019). Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics (6th ed.). London: Elsevier Limited.
  • Zeind, C. and Carvalho, M. (2018). Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use of Drugs (11th ed.). New York: Wolters Kluwer.

Related keywords: hypertension causes, hypertension treatment, types of hypertension, hypertension symptoms, hypertension pathophysiology, hypertension ppt, hypertension prevention, hypertension pdf, high blood pressure causes, high blood pressure diet, types of hypertension drugs, high blood pressure symptoms, high blood pressure treatment, causes of sudden high blood pressure, What are the 4 stages of hypertension? How do you feel when you have high blood pressure? What is the most common cause of essential hypertension?

Tags: Hypertension
Previous Post

Abbreviations Commonly Used In Prescriptions and Medication Orders

Next Post

Understanding the Various Types of Hypertension

Related Posts

Featured Image for Non-drug Treatment Approaches for Hypertension
Clinical Pharmacy

7 Non-drug Treatment Approaches for Hypertension

September 29, 2020
Featured Image for 16 Drugs That May Increase Blood Pressure
Clinical Pharmacy

16 Drugs That May Increase Blood Pressure

September 28, 2020
Featured image for blood pressure medications
Clinical Pharmacy

Classes of Blood Pressure Medications with Examples

September 25, 2020
Drugs used in the treatment of hypertensive emergencies
Clinical Pharmacy

Drugs Commonly Used In the Treatment of Hypertensive Emergencies

September 25, 2020
Featured image for types of hypertension
Clinical Pharmacy

Understanding the Various Types of Hypertension

September 25, 2020
Featured image for Understanding Prescription Abbreviations
Clinical Pharmacy

Abbreviations Commonly Used In Prescriptions and Medication Orders

September 26, 2020

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post Flash

Advantages and Disadvantages of Pharmaceutical Suspensions

Glossary of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems

Limitations of Stokes’ Law

Scale-up of Solid Dosage Forms

Pharmaceutical Industries in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

The Benefits Of, And Problems With, Microorganisms

How to Reconstitute Injectable Powder for Suspension [Step-By-Step Guide]

WHO Americas Region Country Offices

Regulations, Guidelines and Clinical Trials

Drugs, Chemical and Herbal Regulations
Drugs, Herbal, and Chemical Guidelines
Clinical Trials

Important Links

Drug Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria
National Agency for Food & Drugs Admin & Control
Pharmacists Council of Nigeria
Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria
Journal of Pharmaceutical Development and Industrial Pharmacy
Job Opportunities for Pharmacists

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 810 other subscribers

Submit Articles

Click to Submit Your Article

Archives

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2021 Pharmapproach Limited. All Rights Reserved .

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Post Categories
    • Pharmaceutical Technology
    • Clinical Pharmacy
    • Pharmaceutical Microbiology
    • Pharmacology
    • Pharmaceutics
    • Pharmacy Management
    • Pharma Companies
    • Articles
    • Pharmatips
    • Pharmaceutical Machines
  • Pharma Marketplace

© 2021 Pharmapproach Limited. All Rights Reserved .

x
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.