Blood Pressure Conditions

Question 1

Define hypertension

Answer 1

Persistently raised arterial blood pressure

Question 2

Risk factors for hypertension

Answer 2

-Advancing age
-Women 65-74
-People of black African/Caribbean origin
-Social deprivation
-Emotional stress

Question 3

Lifestyle improvements to decrease blood pressure

Answer 3

Give advice about the benefits of regular exercise, a healthy diet, low dietary sodium intake, and reduced alcohol intake (if excessive) as these changes can reduce blood pressure.

Discourage excessive consumption of coffee and other caffeine-rich products, and offer advice to help smokers to stop smoking

Question 4

Hypertension thresholds

Answer 4

Stage 1) Clinic BP 140/90 mmHg - 159/99 mmHg
Ambulatory 135/85 mmHG - 149/94 mmHg

Stage 2) Clinic BP 160/100 mmHg - 180/120 mmHg
Ambulatory 150/95 mmHg or higher

Severe) in clinic BP of 180 mmHg systolic or 120 mmHg diastolyic. Treat same day

Question 5

Methods to assess cardiovascular risk in patients with confirmed hypertension

Answer 5

glycated haemoglobin, electrolytes, creatinine, estimated glomular filtration rate, total and HDL cholesterol should be measured, tests for the presence of proteinuria, haematuria, and hypertensive retinopathy undertaken, and a 12-lead ECG performed.