Hypertension

Question 1

What is hypertension?

Answer 1

When the 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure reading averages at 135/85mmHg or higher

Question 2

What is normal blood pressure?

Answer 2

90/60 to 140/90

Question 3

If a patient has hypertension and blood potassium of 4.5mmol/L or less, what would you add?

Answer 3

Low dose spironolactone

Question 4

If a patient has hypertension and blood potassium of over 4.5mmol/L, what would you add?

Answer 4

Alpha or beta blocker

Question 5

What are the clinic / home BP targets in a hypertension patient who is equal to or over 80 years old?

What if they are under 80 years old?

Answer 5

Equal to or over 80 yo:
Clinic BP = 150/90
Home BP = 145/85

Under 80 yo:
Clinic BP = 140/90
Home BP = 135/85

Question 6

If a Black 60 year old man with T2DM has hypertension, why would you start him on ARB/ACEi rather than CCB first?

Answer 6

Although he is Afro-Carribbean, he will need ACEi/ARB first line because he has T2DM and these drugs have renoprotective effects