Hypertension Flashcards
(48 cards)
what is hypertension?
a disorder in which the level of sustained arterial pressure is higher than expected for the age, sex and race of the individual
what is the exact blood pressure considered to be hypertension?
> 140/90
what are the two types of hypertension?
white coat
stable or labile
what does hypertension eventually cause?
cardiac failure
what is hypertension a risk factor for?
cerebral haemorrhage
atheroma
renal failure
sudden cardiac death
describe the incidence of hypertension
varies between countries higher in black populations lower in south pacific familial tendency rises with age
what is the classification of hypertension according to cause?
primary or secondary
what is the classification of hypertension according to consequences?
benign or malignant
how can BP be calculated?
CO X PR
what has an effect on CO?
HR
contractility
blood volume
what has an effect on PR?
constrictors and dilators
describe resistance arteries
peripheral resistance
target organ damage
what is primary hypertension?
most common
no obvious cause
what can be involved in causing primary hypertension?
genetic factors
salt intake
protein intake
which body systems does primary hypertension involve?
RAAS
sympathetic activity
what is salt sensitive hypertension?
increase in dietary salt leads to increase in BP
some causes primary hypertension
controlled by reduced salt diet
what causes salt sensitive hypertension?
genetic polymorphisms
what is secondary hypertension?
when underlying disease is implicated eg renal disease, endocrine disease, aortic disease, renal artery stenosis, drug therapy
what are renal causes of hypertension?
any renal disease
reduced renal blood flow
excess renin release
salt and water overload
name some renal diseases which may cause hypertension
renal artery stenosis, acute or chronic glomerulonephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, cystic diseases, interstitial nephritis
what are endocrine causes?
adrenal gland hyperfunction/tumours
eg conn’s syndrome- excess aldosterone, cushing’s syndrom- excess corticosteroid, phaeochromocytoma- excess noradrenaline
what are other causes?
coarctation of the aorta- congenital narrowing of segments of the aorta
drugs- including corticosteroids
what is benign hypertension?
a cause of serious life threatening morbidity
asymptomatic, incidental finding often health checks
what does benign hypertension eventually cause?
left ventricular hypertrophy congestive cardiac failure increases atheroma increases aneurysm rupture- aortic dissection, Berry aneurysms renal disease
