Category: Hypertension

Introduction

Hypertension is a condition that affects a large portion of the population and presents significant danger in the daily lives of people. The term can be used to describe a long-term state in which a persons blood pressure is elevated above the general norm, resulting in increased danger for a persons health and wellbeing. Increased blood pressure puts a strain on an individuals body and their blood circulation as a whole. In particular, the danger of having a stroke, suffering from coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and other types of heart-related disease. It is important to recognize some of the major contributing factors to hypertension, as well as the proper ways of addressing it from a nursing perspective. In this paper, some of these considerations will be covered in detail.

Risk Factors

There is a variety of risks for people to develop hypertension, including modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Most notably, a persons lifestyle can either decrease or increase their probability of suffering from the condition. The first such relevant factor is obesity, which can lead to excessive amounts of fat in a persons body and cardiovascular system (Seravalle & Grassi, 2017). Furthermore, the increased body mass puts increased strain on a persons blood pressure, as it has to deliver blood with more effort. Heavy drinking is also a large contributor to hypertension, leading to the deterioration of the persons blood circulation (Jarvis et al., 2019). Another factor, which is not modifiable, on the other hand, is a persons age (Buford, 2016). When an individual gets older, they are more likely to suffer from hypertension and face more severe health risks because of it as well.

Nursing Care

Nursing care and support play a significant role in managing the health of people with hypertension, but their practice makes the largest impact in prevention efforts. Through active practice, nurses are able to help individuals to lead more healthy and prosperous lives, avoiding major factors causing hypertension. With effective advocacy for a healthy lifestyle and life advice, nurses are able to help people manage their health conditions themselves, which falls in line with advocating for personal responsibility and self-management (Drevenhorn, 2018). A nurse acts as an intermediary between a patient and the working physician, using their medical knowledge and caring approach to make understanding easier. Furthermore, nurses perform evaluations and can assess a persons progress continuously, improving the effectiveness of self-care procedures.

Prevention

Prevention of hypertension can be accomplished on both an individual basis, and a systematic basis. As an individual, a person can make changes to their daily routine, habits, and lifestyle, which will contribute to overall healthy living. Adhering to a balanced diet, often engaging in physical activity, and having enough rest are all actions a person can take to minimize their risk of suffering from hypertension. On a systematic level, similarly, there is a number of actions that can be taken both by the government and medical institutions. Patient education stands at the helm of such efforts, as an informed population can find the ability to effectively respond to the dangers of hypertension (Carey et al., 2018). Another important part is improved access to healthcare and health checkups. This effort gives people the ability to be informed about the state of their health.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hypertension is an important consideration and issue in the sphere of healthcare. Best described as a continuous state of elevated blood pressure, this condition puts individuals at risk of severe health complications. Interference from a medical professional, a nurse in particular, can be extremely effective in preventing hypertension and spreading awareness among the population. Being informed about the ways of minimizing the risk is the best way to protect oneself from harm.

References

Buford, T. W. (2016). Hypertension and aging. Ageing Research Reviews, 26, 96111. Web.

Carey, R. M., Muntner, P., Bosworth, H. B., & Whelton, P. K. (2018). Prevention and Control of Hypertension. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 72(11), 12781293. Web.

Drevenhorn, E. (2018). A Proposed Middle-Range Theory of Nursing in Hypertension Care. International Journal of Hypertension, 2018, 111. Web.

Jarvis, C., Tarlier, D., Pelt, V. L., Labrecque, M. E., & Newton, L. (2019). Jarvis Physical Examination & Health Assessment. Elsevier.

Seravalle, G., & Grassi, G. (2017). Obesity and hypertension. Pharmacological Research, 122, 17. Web.

Abstract

Pregnant women are prone to complications, which threaten their lives and that of the infants. Pregnancy-induced hypertension is one of the complications that pregnant women experience. To prevent or manage complications, parents usually attend childbirth classes.

The childbirth class, which was held at Sibley Memorial Hospital taught parents how to handle experiences that they undergo during the first, second, and third trimesters. Despite the fact that the instructor covered extensive topics, she did not cover the topic of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Hence, the teaching plan focused on signs and symptoms, the nature of the complication, risk factors, and applicable interventions.

Instructor

On February 7, 2015, I attended a boot camp for childbirth class that was hosted at Sibley Memorial Hospital. The session of the childbirth class started at 9am and ended at 5pm. The instructors name was Rosemarie Antunes, a registered nurse with the experience of 30 years in obstetric, labor, and delivery nursing acquired from different hospitals in different states.

She obtained her licenses as a registered nurse (RN) from the Virginia Department of Health Professions in 2004 and State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health in 1980. She has also received professional certification from Prepared Childbirth Educators in 2006 and Certified Labor Doula in 2009. Rosemarie took her diploma education for RN at Saint Francis Hospital School in 1977-1980.

Currently, she works for Fauquier Health System, a family birthing center, since 2004. She also works for Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, and Normal Newborn as a certified childbirth educator with experience of 10 years in preparing expectant mothers and their partners for what is ahead of them. Rosemarie is a mother of six children with 10 grandchildren (R. Antunes, personal communication, February 7, 2015).

The instructor employed constructivism as a teaching philosophy because she aided the participants to understand experiences that they expect during pregnancy and delivery by using questions and demonstrations. To construct the foundation of teaching, the instructor told the participants to ask questions that they might have before she commences each session.

Moreover, the instructor informed the participants that she would stop at any time during presentation to allow them to ask questions. To enhance understanding among the participants, the instructor demonstrated her teachings using various methods. The teaching methods that the instructor employed in demonstrations are videos, PowerPoint presentation, handouts, dolls, and birth balls.

Class

The childbirth class took place on February 7, 2015 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in one of their lecture halls from 9am to 5pm. The childbirth class comprised of Caucasian couples, African couples, and Asians couples. Interestingly, during their introduction, all of them indicated that they were expecting their babies in March 2015.

From the introduction, it became apparent that half of the couples were married while the remaining couples were just partners. The participants were young adults between the ages of 20 to 30 years, who were expecting their babies for the first time. The couples were ready for the childbirth lessons as they brought with them pillows, birth balls, and blankets.

The topics covered in childbirth class aimed at enhancing the understanding of pregnancy (3^rd trimester), labor, Christina Birth story, comfort techniques, medical procedures, cesarean birth, newborn procedures, postpartum, and labor rehabilitation. The instructor covered anatomy and physiology of pregnancy from first trimester to the third trimester, and hormonal proliferations that happen during pregnancy.

To improve their health, the instructor encouraged the pregnant women to eat food high in fiber, drink water at all times, and call HCP whenever they experience pain during urination. The instructor also covered signs of labor and expected medical emergencies such as induction and cesarean births, which are essential in saving babies and mothers.

She taught the participants how to employ exercise, relaxation, massage, and music in improving the birth of the newborn in a natural way. The instructor also mentioned postpartum and gave healthcare instructions for newborn, such as safety and breastfeeding techniques.

Teaching Plan

Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH)

Although the instructor extensively covered diverse areas of childbirth, I noted that she did not delve deep into complications of pregnancy, and thus, she should have examined the topic of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).

Pregnant women are susceptible to PIH or gestational hypertension owing to changes in their bodies. Essentially, PIH has medical importance because it threatens the lives of the baby and the mother. Therefore, I will explore the topic of PIH with a view of equipping the participants with the appropriate knowledge that is critical in prevention, treatment, and management of the complication.

Summary of Teaching

The first objective of teaching pregnant women is to enable them to identify signs and symptoms of PIH. As PIH requires early detection for treatment and management interventions to be effective, pregnant women need to understand how to identify the signs and symptoms of PIH very early.

Excessive swelling of hands and feet, dizziness, excessive nausea, rapid heartbeat, severe headaches, drowsiness, fever, blurred vision, and pain in the abdomen are some of the signs and symptoms of PIH, which pregnant women need to watch so that they can seek early medical attention.

According to Jwa et al. (2013), early detection of PIH is critical for fetal and maternal health because it enhances the effectiveness of treatment and management interventions. As teaching methods, I will employ PowerPoint presentation, brochures, handouts, and discussion.

In teaching about PIH, the second objective is to enable the participating couples to understand the nature of PIH. Given that pregnant women experience diverse forms of hypertension, PIH is a unique form of hypertension because it only happens after the 20th week of pregnancy and can be either transient or chronic (Sajith et al., 2014).

When blood pressure of a pregnant woman is higher than 140/90 in two different occasions, and her urine contains no proteins, the differential diagnosis indicates PIH. As a teaching method, I will demonstrate diagnosis of PIH by measuring blood pressure of the pregnant women and undertaking urinalysis to determine the presence of proteins in urine.

The third objective is to enable the participating couples to understand risks of PIH. The common risk factors for PIH are women with the first-time pregnancy, increased maternal age, family history, multiple gestations, proteinuria, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus (Jwa et al., 2013).

Moreover, nutrition also has other risk factors for PIH because an increased consumption of vitamin E and mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids increases the risk for PIH, while an increased consumption of magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C reduces the risk for PIH (Kazemian et al., 2012).

Sleep disturbance is also a possible risk factor for PHI because it correlates with hypertension (Haney, Buysse, & Okun, 2011). To expose these findings, I will employ PowerPoint presentation, brochures, handouts, and discussion.

The fourth objective of teaching is to enhance understanding of available treatment and management interventions of PIH. When pregnant women know the nature of available interventions, they can discuss with their doctors and choose the best intervention that fits them, hence, promote therapeutic adherence.

Sajith et al. (2014) state that both mono- and combined therapies of antihypertensive drugs are used in the treatment and management of PIH because they are safe for mothers and infants. Kazemian et al., (2012) recommends the application of nutrition in the prevention, treatment, and management of PIH.

Moreover, Haney, Buysse, and Okun (2011) recommend that alleviation of sleep disturbance reduces blood pressure, and hence, prevents the occurrence of PIH. The methods of teaching will comprise the use of the PowerPoint presentation, brochures, handouts, and discussion.

Handout

Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

What is pregnancy-induced hypertension?

Pregnancy-induced hypertension refers to the high blood pressure, which women experience when they are pregnant.

Why is it important for pregnant women?

Pregnancy-induced hypertension affects pregnant women because their body changes during pregnancy. If doctors do not detect and treat pregnancy-induced hypertension, the mother and the baby will die. Therefore, pregnant women need to understand this disease so that they can seek medical attention whenever they experience signs and symptoms and save themselves and the unborn babies.

Signs and Symptoms

The common signs and symptoms of pregnancy-induced hypertension are excessive swelling of hands and feet, severe morning sickness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, severe headaches, drowsiness, high temperature, poor vision, and pain in the abdomen.

Nature of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is different from other types of hypertensions because it affects women only, occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and there are no proteins in the urine. However, when not treated, it progresses into a disease called preeclampsia, which causes urine to appear in urine.

Risk Factors

The risk factors for pregnancy-induced hypertension are first-time pregnancy, age of the mother, bloodline with this disease, proteins in urine, many pregnancies, diabetes, nutrition, high blood pressure, and sleep disturbance.

Treatment and Management Interventions

• Use medications that reduce high blood pressure (antihypertensive drugs).
• Control food intake by reducing the amount of oils while increasing the amount of potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C.
• Avoid disturbance during sleep and have peace of mind.

References

Haney, A., Buysse, D., & Okun, M. (2011). Sleep and pregnancy-induced hypertension: A possible target for intervention? Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 9(12), 1349-1356.

Jwa, S., Arata, N., Sakamoto, N., Watanabe, N., Aoki, H., Kurauchi-Mito, A., Dongmei, Q., Ohya, Y., Ichihara, A., & Kitagawa. (2011). Prediction of pregnancy-induced hypertension by shift of blood pressure class according to the JSH 2009 guidelines. Hypertension Research, 34(1), 1203-1208.

Kazemian, E., Dorosti-Motiagh, A., Sotoudeh, G., Eshraghian, M., & Ansary, S. (2012). The nutritional status of women with gestational hypertension compared to normal pregnant women. Womens Health Care, 1(10), 1-6.

Sajith, M., Nimbargi, V., Modi, A., Sumariya, R., & Pawar, A. (2014). Incidence of pregnancy induced hypertension and prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs in pregnancy. International Journal of Pharma Sciences and Research, 5(4), 163-170.

Hypertension, also referred to as elevated blood pressure (BP), is increasingly becoming a major healthcare concern that exacerbates the risks of chronic diseases such as heart attack.

Based on the recent statistics, approximately 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide have hypertension with the majority being from developing countries (Zhou et al., 2021, p. 784). In the U.S., for instance, nearly a half of adults in the U.S. have hypertension (Zhou et al., 2021, p. 785). However, the main issue of concern is that most people may not be aware they have high blood pressure. In addition to this, only 21 percent of adults with hypertension have the ability of managing it (Zhou et al., 2021, p. 785). Therefore, this medical report seeks to provide an overview of hypertension with a particular focus on relevant medical history, testing, diagnostics, treatment options and appropriate plan of action. Understanding the medical history and other related factors is critical when managing hypertension, which remains to be a major cause of premature death globally.

Relevant Medical History

Medical history is important as it ensures the care providers develop a clear understanding of patients state of health. The information obtained is critical as it helps healthcare providers offer individualized patient care. It can also guide them through the diagnostic process  they develop a clear understanding of the hereditary and family related diseases as well as allergies and past and current medication. A comprehensive medical history should be extracted right after several tests have been carried out showing elevated blood pressure. Therefore, healthcare providers must strive to obtain medical history about the patients pre-existing medical conditions and drugs. Additionally, the care providers should put into consideration the patients lifestyle patterns, specifically, physical exercises and dietary intake.

In line with the above, medical history plays an important role of determining whether or not the patient has secondary hypertension. Here, the care providers should focus more on the history of previous healthcare conditions such as renal disease, anemia, obstructive sleep apnea, and urochrome pigmentation. For instance, a patient with a history of depression, weight gain, and tiredness may suggest a diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

Diagnostics

To diagnose hypertension, the care providers must conduct a comprehensive examination guided by a series of questions on a patients medical history and any emerging symptoms. In most cases, as explicated by Pons et al. (2021), the provider listens to the heartbeat with the help of a stethoscope. Another important step in the diagnostic process is where the care provider checks the blood pressure using a cuff  it is usually placed around a patients arm. Pons et al. (2021) emphasized the need to ensure the cuff fits around the arm. This is necessary because using either a bigger or small cuff will yield different blood pressure readings. The process also requires the provider to measure blood pressure in both arms to determine if there are any significant differences. After this, the arm with the highest blood pressure should be used in subsequent measurements. At the basic level, the BP reading has two numbers  top number (systolic pressure) and bottom number (diastolic pressure). The former measures pressure in arteries during heartbeat while the latter measures BP between heartbeats.

In line with the above, an individual is diagnosed with hypertension based on the readings on both the systolic and diastolic. This means that hypertension is present when BP reading is equal or greater than 130/80 mm Hg (Pons et al., 2021). Furthermore, high blood pressure can be calculated as an average between two readings obtained on separate occasions.

Appropriate Hypertension Testing

Once diagnosed with high blood pressure, the care provider will recommend several tests to determine the cause. The first test for consideration is ambulatory monitoring, which is done at regular intervals over 24 hours to determine the cause and severity of the condition. This test is carried out either at the clinic or doctors office using sphygmomanometer (Jones et al., 2020). This test targets patients who are not able to keep their blood pressure under control and those whose BP is caused by medications. Secondly, lab tests, specifically blood and urine tests are conducted to find out the specific conditions that can cause or exacerbate high blood pressure. For instance, care providers may carryout tests to check for cholesterol and blood sugar levels in the body. Lab tests can also be done to determine the functionality of some organs such as kidney, liver and thyroid.

The third test is electrocardiogram (ECG), a noninvasive test that is carried out to identify and, at the same time, detect the electrical activity of the heart. The findings are then recorded on a plain paper for later use. According to Jones et al. (2020), ECG is mainly used in helping evaluate the damage caused by the heart muscle including heart attack. The last test is Echocardiogram, an ultrasound evaluation of the heart which is undertaken through the chest. As the heart beats and relaxes, sound waves originating from Echocardiogram take a picture and transmit the image to the video monitor. Additionally, Echocardiograms main role is to detect any problems associated with heart such as enlargement and blood clots as well as abnormalities in the heart valve and motion of the heart wall. Echocardiogram also helps provide accurate measurement of the ejection fraction or stability of the heart muscle. Overall, although Echocardiogram is more accurate compared to ECG is more expensive.

Treatment Options: Lifestyle Modifications

The appropriate treatment option for patients with pre-hypertension is lifestyle modifications. Some of the common modifications, as discussed by Ott &Schmieder (2022), include weight loss, reduced sodium intake, physical activity, and limiting alcohol consumption (p. 36). According to British Hypertension Society (BHS) guidelines, lifestyle modification is necessary for patients with a strong family history  it helps lower blood pressure. However, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough to treat high blood pressure  the care providers may also recommend pharmacotherapy.

Pharmacotherapy

Healthcare provider will recommend medications in the event lifestyle modifications fail to adequately help an individual manage their blood pressure. The first-line treatment options for hypertension include diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (Ott &Schmieder, 2022, p. 37). In some instances, the healthcare provider may recommend taking 2 or antihypertensive in order to achieve the BP goal. Patients who are newly diagnosed with hypertension should receive 2 antihypertensives to help them achieve a target (Ott & Schmieder, 2022). It is also important to administer second line drugs with complementary mechanism of action (MOA) in an effort to minimize the side effects.

Appropriate Plan of Action

Having a plan of action is critical when it comes to keeping the blood pressure within the normal range. Therefore, the appropriate plan of action with regard to this medical report is the Dietary to Stop Hypertension (DASH). DASH emphasizes more on the need to eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, low-fat milk products, whole grains, lean meats, fish, dried beans and nuts (Osté et al., 2018, p. 523). Individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure should also monitor their sodium intake to below 2000mg every day in order to keep their BP under control. According to research, DASH diet can help lower BP within two weeks (Osté et al., 2018). Moreover, the diet if followed through can lower cholesterol levels in the blood. It therefore follows that patients should strive to consume a diet with law saturated fat and sodium, but rich in protein, fiber, calcium and magnesium.

Conclusion

Hypertension is emerging as a major issue of public concern that requires urgent solution. The problem today is that most people may not be aware that they have high blood pressure. Therefore, care providers should strive to medical history in effort to understand the severity of the condition. In addition to this, the care providers must conduct a comprehensive examination guided by a series of questions on a patients medical history and any emerging symptoms in order to diagnose hypertension. The care providers may recommend several tests such as ambulatory monitoring, lab tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), and Echocardiogram to determine the cause of hypertension. Overall, there are several treatment options for patients diagnosed with hypertension. For instance, the appropriate treatment option for patients with pre-hypertension is lifestyle modifications with a focus on physical activity. Medications may be recommended in the event lifestyle modifications fail to adequately help an individual manage their blood pressure.

References

Jones, N. R., McCormack, T., Constanti, M., & McManus, R. J. (2020). Diagnosis and management of hypertension in adults: NICE guideline updates 2019. British Journal of General Practice, 70(691), 90-91. Web.

Osté, M. C., Gomes-Neto, A. W., Corpeleijn, E., Gans, R. O., de Borst, M. H., van den Berg, E., & Bakker, S. J. (2018). Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and risk of renal function decline and all-cause mortality in renal transplant recipients. American Journal of Transplantation, 18(10), 523-533. Web.

Ott, C., &Schmieder, R. E. (2022). Diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension 2021. Kidney International, 101(1), 36-46. Web.

Pons, M., Augustin, S., Scheiner, B., Guillaume, M., Rosselli, M., Rodrigues, S. G., &Genescà, J. (2021). Noninvasive diagnosis of portal hypertension in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease. Official Journal of the American College of Gastroenterology, 116(4), 723-732. Web.

Zhou, B., Perel, P., Mensah, G. A., &Ezzati, M. (2021). Global epidemiology, health burden and effective interventions for elevated blood pressure and hypertension. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 18(11), 785-802. Web.

Pre-eclampsia is a serious hypertensive complication that can occur during pregnancy. Hypertension only occurs in 10% of women during pregnancy and although pre-eclampsia complicates only 2% to 8% of pregnancies, it is still devastating and life-threatening for both the mother and the baby. It is estimated that pre-eclampsia causes death in approximately 76,000 women per year as well as 500,000 babies, a figure proportionate to 40% to worldwide HIV mortality. Eclampsia is an end-stage of the disease which is indicated by generalized seizures. In the UK, there has been a steady fall in the number of maternal deaths over the past few decades due to pre-eclampsia as can be seen in figure 1 as well as the complication rate due to hypertension in pregnancy. However, morbidity and mortality remain high in other parts of the world due to the sub-optimal maternity services. Therefore understanding the pathogenesis of this complication, as well as methods of diagnosing and treating this disease is essential. This report will focus on different a few of the pathophysiological features of the disease, diagnostic methods as well as the management of pre-eclampsia.

It is not uncommon in pregnant women to have a systolic blood pressure (BP) of 140mm Hg or higher and/or 90mm Hg or higher of diastolic BP, known as gestational hypertension. This is diagnosed after finding these readings on at least two occasions, 6 hours apart or more, in pregnant women who were normotensive before pregnancy and before 20 week’s gestation. In fact, one study reported nearly 40% of pregnant women were found to have BP of that figure. If the systolic BP is elevated at a minimum of 160mm Hg and/or diastolic BP is at least 110mm Hg and is sustained for 6 hours or more, it is considered severe gestational hypertension. During pregnancies, the most frequent cause of hypertension is gestational hypertension. In healthy nulliparous women, the rate ranges between 6% and 17%, whilst fascinatingly, the rate ranges between 2% and 4% in multiparous women. This rate is elevated in women with multifetal gestation as well as in women with previous pre-eclampsia. Some women with pre-eclampsia progressed into it from gestational hypertension. However, the gestational age at the time of diagnosis determines the rate of progression, with the rate reaching 50% when women develop gestational hypertension before 30 week’s gestation. Furthermore, some of these women may have undiagnosed chronic hypertension. It has also been shown that multiparous women are at an increased risk of pre-eclampsia with a change in a partner, suggesting that primiparity is important. It seems to be that particular men have an increased chance of fathering a pre-eclamptic pregnancy.

Preeclampsia is generally seen to be as a result of the presence of an abnormality in the placenta, more specifically, the cells that can be found in a placenta – the trophoblast cells. A subdivision of trophoblast cells that is in direct contact with maternal blood, is multinucleate syncytiotrophoblast, a type of trophoblast cell which forms the epithelial wall of the villi. Another subdivision of trophoblast is the mononuclear extravillous cytotrophoblast; this forms the decidua, which is defined as the tissue interface found within the uterus lining. The clinical manifestation is simply due to maternal endothelial dysfunction which in turn causes the systemic circulatory disturbances that patients present with. Two vast categories will be explored: placental and maternal preeclampsia. The main issue that emerges in placental pre-eclampsia, is due to the placenta being under hypoxic conditions with oxidative stress.

General malaise, convulsions, or abdominal pain are some of the symptoms some women present with, however, the most commonly used diagnostic sign is hypertension. As the is a lack of diagnostic investigations specifically for pre-eclampsia, the initial diagnosis is based on clinical features. The severity of pre-eclampsia is mainly defined based on the patient’s blood pressure value along with the presence of proteinuria; any other characterizations are based on associated symptoms.

The method of measuring blood pressure during pregnancy had been under much debate. Until the late 1990s, Korotkoff phase IV (muffling of sound) was used instead of Korotkoff phase V (disappearance of sound) because, in some pregnant women, the sounds do not disappear. A randomised controlled trial comparing the results in hypertensive disorders in pregnancy managed based on either methods was published by The Lancet in 1998 demonstrated that an episode of severe hypertension was more likely to be present by a patient in the Korotkoff phase IV as it was more likely than diastolic hypertension would have been recorded. Nevertheless, the occurrence of severe hypertension, concurrent systolic and diastolic hypertension as well as detrimental maternal and foetal clinical result showed no discrepancy between the two methods. Consequently, after examining these results and considering that Korotkoff phase V is a better indication of intra-arterial pressure as well as being far more reproducible, the use Korotkoff phase V to classify diastolic BP was suggested and since has been implemented and used by the UK.

When measuring BP, the patient should be rested and reclined at an angle of 45. The blood pressure cuff should be a suitable size and placed at the same level as the patient’s heart. Due to many discrepancies in normal BP, numerous readings should be taken to confirm a diagnosis.

The changes in pre-eclampsia is generally the opposite of that of a normal pregnancy, as normal pregnancies usually have a considerable change in BP, with a 50% increase in blood volume as well as cardiac output, frequently accompanied by a fall in BP as a result of peripheral vasodilation.

Over the last century, medics have identified considerable and underlying roles played by high blood pressure in escalating the risks for cardiovascular ailments (Khan, 2006). The disease is the leading cause of death among the American adults. It is estimated that the disease affects over 60 million individuals.

The prevalence of the disease together with its complications is rising radically due to obesity and increased number of aging people. Recent studies indicate that the outstanding lifetime threat for developing the disease is up to 89%, and the likelihood of requiring antihypertensive medication is 60% of the individuals above 50 years (MacGregor & Kaplan, 2010). The purpose of this article is to educate you about hypertension, activity level, and nutrition nursing interventions.

Ninety percent of all the reported cases of the disease are essential in nature. This implies that hypertension is probably genetic in origin. Studies have indicated that a slight fluctuation in sodium management by the kidneys lead to a rise in arterial pressure.

The remaining cases of hypertension are secondary in nature. This percentage is credited to either kidney or an endocrine origin. The major secondary causes of hypertension are chronic kidney diseases, coarctation of the aorta, drug induced, sleep apnea, and thyroid disease. Usually, most patients diagnosed with the disease have family members with a history of hypertension.

Therefore, your evaluation procedures should be used as the first guide to identifying between the two types of hypertension. During this process, you should be able to provide the clinicians with probable secondary causes of the disease. You should note that during this process physical assessment and methodical medical history are of the greatest importance.

In my clinical history, I have noted that patients are not always pleased about being told that they have a medical issue. As such, many patients go through a stage of denial and are opposed to education and the preeminent efforts of the clinicians. I have always emphasized to you and my clients that it is vital for them to be acquainted early on why they require treatment and what the suitable treatment objectives should be.

After you have been diagnosed with hypertension, clinicians should determine the best pharmacotherapy to be adopted. As a patient, you should note that most drugs only decrease the systolic blood pressure by approximately 10 mm Hg. This implies that more than a single control method should be employed in the treatment process.

For effective hypertension management, you should adopt a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle modifications lessen blood pressure, improve antihypertensive drug effectiveness, and reduce cardiovascular risk (Nadar, 2009). These modifications include weight reduction, adoption of low fat vegetarian-like diet, dietary sodium reduction, physical activity, abstaining from smoking, and moderation of alcohol consumption. The most conventional and suggested nutritional intervention is the DASH diet.

The DASH diet relies on an eating strategy that requires individuals to consume a lot of fruits and vegetables and foods with low fat content. Equally, the plan requires individuals to eat foods with low sodium and rich in fiber, calcium, and calcium content. This diet is so efficient that if it is well implemented it can reduce blood pressure in two weeks.

With respect to weight reduction, several studies have indicated that this modification has a direct beneficial effect on hypertension. The results indicate that with a 10% increase in relative weight, the blood pressure increase by 6.5 mm Hg. Medics assert that hypertension related to obesity results from increased peripheral resistance, salt sensitivity, and increased sympathetic nervous system activity.

Hypertension treatment in overweight individuals requires a cautious preliminary assessment on the clients’ diets, habitual activity, and previous weight loss attempts. Obese patients are encouraged to adopt Dash diet and exercise regularly.

Recent studies have shown that there is a connection between sedentary lifestyle and the prevalence of hypertension (Lerma, 2013). The studies indicate that increased physical activity leads to lower levels of blood pressure. Four characteristics of exercise are important to consider for blood pressure lowering.

These are frequency, duration, length, and intensity of the exercise. Low to moderate intensity exercise is more efficient in the reduction of blood pressures compared to higher intensity exercise. Most antihypertensive effect of aerobic exercise is achieved with up to 3 sessions in a week.

Another powerful tool in the reduction of high blood pressure is smoking cessation (Whelton & He, 2003). In your clinical report, it is indicated that you are an active smoker. I want to let you know that smoking enhances arterial stiffness, increases sympathetic activity, destroys the endothelium, and hastens atherosclerosis, consequently increasing the chances of developing hypertension. Therefore, with each cigarette you smoke you increase the chances of those around you to develop hypertension.

Usually, if a smoker is diagnosed with hypertension, he or she should quit smoking because it increases the risk of mortality. This should be a wakeup call for you to quit smoking for the benefit of your family members and yourself. Smoking cessation is related to a reduction in vulnerability to coronary events by up to 50%. Based on the above reasons, I recommend that you adopt smoke cessation program as an important facet of the lifestyle modification approach.

References

Khan, M. I. (2006). Encyclopedia of heart diseases. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic. Lerma, E. V. (2013). Clinical decisions in nephrology, hypertension and kidney transplantation. New York, NY: Springer New York.

MacGregor, G., & Kaplan, N. M. (2010). Hypertension (4th ed.). Abingdon: Health Press.

Nadar, S. (2009). Hypertension. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Whelton, P. K., & He, J. (2003). Lifestyle modification for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. New York: Marcel Dekker.

Metoprolol is utilized exclusively or combined with other suppositories to get rid of hypertension. Decreasing high blood pressure assists in avoiding strokes, seizures, and kidney complications. This medication is correspondingly used to get rid of upper body pain and to recover subsistence after a stroke (Larosa & Kostis, 2013). Metoprolol is acknowledged as one of the beta-blocker medications. It works by obstructing the effect of several natural substances on MT’s body. This includes the level of epinephrine and the blood vessels. This outcome normalizes the heart rate and heart tension. This medicine may similarly be used for heart failure, unbalanced heartbeat, headache deterrence (migraines), shocks, and other circumstances.

MT should utilize this medication repeatedly to get the most of it (Larosa & Kostis, 2013). She should take it daily (it is also crucial to take it at the same time every day). Nonetheless, MT should not abruptly quit taking this medicine as her state may become poorer when the treatment is unexpectedly stopped. Dealing with high blood pressure may take an extensive period before MT gets the full advantage of this medication. It is central to remain taking this medicine even if she feels fine (Larosa & Kostis, 2013). To avert upper body discomfort, a subsequent stroke, or migraines, it is central to take this suppository recurrently as given.

The dynamic component ezetimibe, which is a kind of medication identified as a lipid absorption obstructer. Ezetimibe attempts to avoid cholesterol and supplementary vegetal sterols being engrossed into MT’s blood flow from the minor intestine. It correspondingly stops cholesterol that is unconstrained from the bile canal into the bowel from being repeatedly captivated back into the blood circulation (Jellinger et al., 2012). The general outcome is a decrease in cholesterol levels in the plasma. Hypertension is spotted among individuals who take Ezetimibe, particularly for women that are older than 50, have been taking the medication for at least two years, also take suppository similar to Aspirin, and suffer from hypertension.

The nurse recommends a wide-ranging approach to regulating sterol levels and address accompanying metabolic irregularities and adjustable risk aspects such as hypertension, diabetes, overweight, and smoking (Burst & Benzing, 2011). The initial approach to principal deterrence in patients with overweight ailments includes the employment of régime deviations, together with corporal actions and therapeutic nourishment treatment (Larosa & Kostis, 2013). The treatment may as well comprise patient instruction agendas to endorse additional risk lessening through quitting smoking and losing weight. The medication the nurse recommends to take instead of ezetimibe is pravastatin (Larosa & Kostis, 2013).

It lets down “adverse” lipid and increases “upright” cholesterol in the individuals who cannot do this through nourishment régime and physical activities. It can also diminish the risk of a seizure, heart attack, and demise, predominantly if MT has high blood pressure/ diabetes or smokes cigars (Jellinger et al., 2012). Since the utmost outcome of a prescribed dose is realized during a month, intermittent lipid evaluations should be done throughout this time and dosage attuned by the results. The preliminary pravastatin dose is 40 mg one-time-a-day (orally) and the preservation dose ranges from 40 to 80 mg a day (Jellinger et al., 2012).

MT should change her lifestyle to decrease the risk aspects that she can regulate. This includes quitting smoking, watching her weight, upholding a healthy body mass, and working out often. MT should eat healthy food with low cholesterol levels. She could also receive detailed references or directed to a dietician for healthy diet development.

References

Burst, V., & Benzing, T. (2011). Dyslipidemia Treatment and Cardiovascular Disease in the Renal Patient. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 17(9), 894-907. Web.

Jellinger, P., Smith, D., Mehta, A., Ganda, O., Handelsman, Y., Rodbard, H.,… Seibel, J. (2012). American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists’ Guidelines for Management of Dyslipidemia and Prevention of Atherosclerosis. Endocrine Practice, 18(Supplement 1), 1-78. Web.

Larosa, J. C., & Kostis, J. B. (2013). Dyslipidemia in Hypertension. Hypertension: A Companion to Braunwald’s Heart Disease, 320-326. Web.

Typical Problems

The number of typical problems connected to hypertension is rather extensive. The most prevalent are decreased cardiac output, imbalanced nutrition, and deficient knowledge (Han, Lee, Commodore-Mensah, & Kim, 2014). The nurse should deal with these issues in a timely manner in order to prevent probable complications.

Decreased cardiac output is signified by an insufficient amount of blood driven to the heart. This also means that the metabolic requirements of the patient’s body are not satisfied. The issue of decreased cardiac output might also be the reason for future ventricular hypertrophy or myocardial ischemia (Han et al., 2014). The nurse should be able to maintain the patient’s blood pressure within exclusively acceptable limits. The nurse should also observe the patient’s skin color and provide comfort measures. At the same time, the patient should not be involved in stressful situations.

The issue of imbalanced nutrition is connected to disproportionate intake in terms of metabolic needs. The nurse should observe the patient in order to identify issues with the eating patterns (if there are any). The key problem with imbalanced nutrition is the patient’s deskbound activity level (Han et al., 2014). First, the nurse expects to find a positive relationship between obesity and hypertension. The interventions are designed to possibly transform the patient’s body by changing the metabolic pattern (probable outcome – loss of weight). It is also important to elaborate on an individual exercise program that is necessary to change the patient’s lifestyle.

The problem of deficient knowledge is one of the most commonly met in hypertension patients. For the most part, the patients are not literate enough, meaning that they do not possess any knowledge concerning their own illness. The nurse should be able to help the patient to interpret the information correctly and accept the diagnosis (Han et al., 2014). The latter is one of the most important constituents of a successful treatment plan. The nurse should avoid misconceptions and limit the manifestation of exaggerated behaviors. In conclusion, the nurse should be able to clearly state the objectives of the treatment and the expected outcomes.

Medical History Indicators

There is a number of aspects contained within the health history of a patient with hypertension that would be essential in understanding a patient’s current health state and work-up completed to date. First, the nurse should pay attention to the previous cases of transient loss of consciousness (Scord & Pickett, 2015). This health issue is inextricably connected to hypertension and maybe both a premise and consequence of high blood pressure. One should also proceed with caution before prescribing strong medications. Medication abuse or wrong choice of medicine might trigger migraines (Scord & Pickett, 2015).

Another issue that should be emphasized when going through the health history of a patient with hypertension is the presence of previous concussions (Scord & Pickett, 2015). This supposition is based on the fact that people who survived a concussion tend to have higher blood pressure than those who never got one. An injured brain is proved to be volatile to the increase in any individual’s heart rate and higher blood pressure (Scord & Pickett, 2015).

The most prevalent issue in hypertension patients is obesity. Overweight creates numerous complications for both the nurse and the patient (Scord & Pickett, 2015). First, there is a necessity to check the patient’s weight as often as possible. Second, the increase of the heart strains is inevitable. When combined, these peculiarities have a major impact on the patient’s cardiac output (Scord & Pickett, 2015). Obesity might even be treated separately due to the necessity of consulting with a professional dietician.

References

Han, H., Lee, H., Commodore-Mensah, Y., & Kim, M. (2014). Development and validation of the hypertension self-care profile. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 29(3), 11-20. Web.

Scordo, K., & Pickett, K. (2015). Managing hypertension. Nursing, 45(1), 28-33. Web.

The first factor that impacts the patient’s health and hypertension treatment pattern is his gender. It has been statistically proven that men have higher rates of hypertension occurrence. Also, we should consider the fact that CF is sixty years old as in younger males the hypertension occurrence rates are not that high. The ethnic variances in retort between beta-blockers and ACE obstructers in hypertension are conceivably the typically predictable instances of racial differences in retort to cardiovascular medications (Anthony, Valinsky, Inbar, Gabriel, & Varda, 2012). Numerous studies found that results were better or not diverse with ACE obstructers as opposed to beta-blocker or calcium canal blocker treatment in African-Americans. Moreover, equated to Caucasians and further ethnic clusters, African-Americans are much more prospective to have blood pressure outside the regulated norms. Another point is CF’s BMI, which is not within the normal range (Anthony et al., 2012). It is safe to say that about 30% of patients with high blood pressure are slightly obese or explicitly overweight. Even abstemiously overweight grown persons have double the hazard of hypertension than individuals with ordinary weightiness.

The thorough analysis of the affecting factors shows that a systematized organization of recordkeeping, recollection, and consistent assessment related to a dynamic stepped care method utilizing antihypertensive medication treatment seems to be the probable way to advance the regulation of blood pressure that is not in the normal range (James et al., 2014). The nurse should monitor the response to the suppositories to regulate CF’s blood pressure. The response to medication treatment is reliant on both the person as well as the synergistic outcomes produced by the medications. As a consequence of secondary effects, medication interactions, and the patient’s incentive for exploiting an antihypertensive suppository, it is imperative to use the minimum amount and lowermost dosage of medicines (James et al., 2014).

As CF is a patient with diabetes, the nurse should utilize Corgard with carefulness for the reason that they can extend and cover the hypoglycemic impact of insulin (the same goes for Visken). The original dosage is 40 mg once every day, whether it is utilized discretely or along with diuretic treatment (James et al., 2014). The dose may be progressively augmented in 40 to 80 mg raises until the optimal blood pressure decrease is attained. The typical maintenance dosage of 40 to 80 mg should be directed once day-to-day. Another reason why he may necessitate reduced dosages is that of the inclination to hypotension and bradycardia. African-American patients tend to be not so reactive to beta-blockers on the whole and may need an improved prescription or use of another medication (mono treatment with an ACE inhibitor).

Consistent physical actions can assist in lowering CF’s blood pressure, manage tension, decrease his risk of more than a few health complications, and preserve his weight closely controlled (Anthony et al., 2012). Losing weight can help CF control his high blood pressure and diminish his risk of associated health complications. Losing even four to ten pounds can moderate his blood pressure. It is important to decrease stress and incorporate vigorous coping methods, such as relaxation, contemplation, or deep respiration (Anthony et al., 2012). Having adequate sleep can assist in this situation, too. Home-based blood pressure maintenance can help CF monitor his blood pressure, display if medication is efficient, and even warn him of the likely difficulties (Anthony et al., 2012).

References

Anthony, H., Valinsky, L., Inbar, Z., Gabriel, C., & Varda, S. (2012). Perceptions of Hypertension Treatment Among Patients with and without Diabetes. BMC Fam Pract BMC Family Practice, 13(1), 13-24. Web.

James, P. A., Oparil, S., Carter, B. L., Cushman, W. C., Dennison-Himmelfarb, C., Handler, J.,… Ortiz, E. (2014). 2014 Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. Jama, 311(5), 507. Web.

Introduction

When the pressure in the blood vessels otherwise known as arteries increase, it leads to a medical condition called hypertension. The condition is long term and comes with a range of challenges. Although the challenges do not appear due to the condition, the symptoms come in because of other problems.

Screening and diagnosis of the disease can take place when one visits a medical facility with the intention of addressing another ailment, which may not have a relationship with high blood pressure. It is imperative to explain that the condition is on the rise especially in the light of the changing lifestyles and poor eating habits demonstrated by modern societies. While the condition affects older people in society, younger individuals are also becoming victims due to the use of supplements and birth control pills. It is within this context that the paper examines the various nutritional support strategies for patients with hypertension.

Causes and Effects of Hypertension

Hypertension also is known as high blood pressure can be a result of primary or secondary causes. While primary causes concern unhealthy lifestyles and poor eating habits, secondary causes comprise known factors such as kidney problems and the use of birth control pills. Reddy and Katan (2004) elucidate that consumption of excess salt and fats are some of the factors, which contribute to the contraction of the disease.

On the other hand, too much consumption of alcohol can also increase the chances of contracting the ailment. It is vital to allude that the effects associated with the condition are dire, a factor that calls for timely redress. Loss of sight, cardiovascular complications, and stroke are some of the effects linked to the disease. In contemporary societies, the ailment has led to the death of a number of individuals, and hence, there is need to institute measures that provide timely redress.

While the condition is manageable and can be treated successfully, medical practitioners encourage its prevention. Individuals at risk are usually the subjects of regular education on the various causes and effects associated with the disease. By creating awareness among the risk individuals in a particular society, the practitioners as well as the state incur minimal costs linked to contraction and treatment of the disease. Moreover, the society experiences minimal challenges associated with loss of lives due to the ailment.

According to Appel (2009), prevention of the disease is one of the steps that lead to its management. As such, it is very crucial for medical practitioners to focus on prevention of the condition so that the challenges related to its treatment decrease. Conversely, patients suffering from the disease should receive expert attention from qualified medical practitioners, who have relevant skills in the respective field.

Intake of Potassium and Minimal Intake of Sodium

Potassium is one of the best nutritional components that patients suffering from hypertension need to look for in foodstuffs that they consume. The relevance of potassium in management and treatment of high blood pressure emanates from its ability to control the levels of sodium in the body. Apparently, by controlling the amount of sodium in the body, potassium helps in management of the condition.

Moreover, control of sodium implies that the amount of fluids stored by the body reduces an aspect that is advantageous in the journey of managing hypertension. Tomatoes, broccoli, and vegetables contain potassium and by taking them, one can successfully address the condition. In the perspective of Reddy and Katan (2004), individuals who have hypertension need to consume food that contain potassium as it plays an important role in the overall treatment of the condition. The statement coins the relevance of potassium in treatment and management of high blood pressure among individuals.

Consequently, individuals suffering from high blood pressure need to avoid excess consumption of sodium. While sodium is good for healthy lifestyles, it leads to storage of fluids in the body. When fluids remain in the body, people gain weight and their chances of contracting hypertension rises. Moreover, in the case of those individuals suffering from high blood pressure, intake of salt complicates the condition and hampers its management and treatment. Appel (2009) explains that individuals suffering from hypertension should stay away from foods that contain high amounts of salt or sodium. In effect, they should try to minimize the rate of salt that they consume. Medical practitioners usually encourage individuals to consume one teaspoonful of salt every day for healthy lives. The translation of the teaspoonful is an average of 1,500mg of salt especially for individuals, who have high blood pressure.

Consumption of Whole Grains and Dairy Products

Bread, pasta, and rice are some of the grains that people who have hypertension need to consume. In the quest to treat and manage the level of pressure in the blood, people suffering from hypertension need to take grains that contain little amounts fat. On the other hand, these people should consume food that is full of fiber. Reddy and Katan (2004) elaborate that while most processed grains have little fiber, majority of whole grains contain lots of fiber and are good in management of the condition.

Whole grain bread, brown rice, and whole-wheat pasta are among the grains that contain high amounts of fiber as opposed to those that have been refined. Besides their high content of fiber, which helps the digestive system, the grains are also good because they contain low amount of fat. Therefore, by consuming grains, individuals improve their digestive system and lower the overall amount of fat in their bodies. Low amount of fat in the body translates to effective management of blood pressure.

While some dairy products contain a lot of fat and are not good for healthy living, those that contain little fat are helpful in management of high blood pressure. Appel (2009) asserts that low fat yoghurt and skimmed milk are some of the dairy products that are useful in treatment of hypertension. It is important for people suffering from high blood pressure to look for dairy products that are low in fat. These individuals need to seek medical advice before consuming any dairy product. The essence of consuming these foods is because of their high contents of calcium and proteins. Moreover, the dairy products contain vitamins such as vitamin D. It is practical to elucidate that when individuals consume dairy products that have low amounts of fat their level of calcium amplifies, a phenomenon that facilitates effective recovery from high blood pressure.

Consumption of Fruits, Vegetables, and Seeds

In the quest to treat and manage the level of blood pressure, people need to consume high amounts of fruits and vegetables. Apparently, fruits and vegetables contain high levels of potassium useful in management of the condition. Moreover, fruits and vegetables contain vitamins, which are essential in the overall health of the body.

Therefore, when people suffering from hypertension consume fruits and vegetables, body immunity improves and their attempt to manage the condition augments. Fruits such as citrus, grapes, and apples are among the best fruits that people suffering from high blood pressure need to consume. Besides containing high amount of potassium, fruits and vegetables also contain magnesium, vitamins, and fiber. Therefore, when people consume them, they eventually improve the functionality of their digestive system. As such, people suffering from hypertension cannot downplay the role played by fruits and vegetables in management of the condition.

Besides consuming vegetables and fruits, one also needs to take a reasonable amount of seeds. The minerals present in various seeds are very instrumental in management of high blood pressure as well as treatment of some cardiovascular complications. It is vital to allude that vitamins such as omega 3 present in seeds like nuts are among the healthy types of fat, which are required for health bodies. Additionally seeds like lentils, sunflower seeds, beans, and almonds have minerals like proteins, fiber, potassium, phytochemicals, and magnesium.

In effect, these minerals are very important in addressing issues related to high blood pressure. Besides helping individuals manage their blood pressure, the seeds also help them attain the much-desired lean and healthy body. According to Appel (2009), consumption of seeds reduces the amount of sodium in the body and facilitates successful management of high blood pressure. Notably, consumption of seeds requires moderation because some of them contain high amount of calories that may be detrimental when consumed excessively.

Relevance of Nutritional Support for Patients with Hypertension

Currently hypertension has diverse ways of management and treatment. Some of the ways adopted by individuals to treat and manage the condition include use of supplements and nutritional systems. It is imperative to explain that the other systems or ways of addressing the condition have a range of side effects that come along with their utilization. On the other hand, following the provisions of nutritional support and consuming the right food is a method that manages the condition without side effects (Reddy & Katan, 2004).

The method also facilitates management of other challenges that affect modern individuals. When one consumes the right food after receiving advice from medical experts, the body acquires the right amount of calories. After acquiring the right amount of calories, issues associated with obesity, cardiovascular complications, and other lifestyle diseases diminish. Therefore, it is wise to recommend that nutritional support is the best method that individuals suffering from hypertension can employ to address the condition.

Conclusion

Hypertension is a problem that affects several individuals in modern societies. Due to poor eating habits and changes in lifestyles, several people have contracted the disease through primary or secondary causes. To curb the rising cases of high blood pressure, there is need to devise a strategy that not only manages present instances but also prevents future recurrence of the disease.

While medical practitioners have various methods that they use to manage the condition, nutritional procedure is the best because it has minimal side effects. In effect, the strategy, which utilizes consumption of particular food, has several benefits that outweigh the demerits. Therefore, scholars and medical practitioners should encourage individuals suffering from hypertension to utilize the provisions espoused in nutritional support programs.

References

Appel, L. (2009). ASH position paper: Dietary approaches to lower blood pressure. The journal of clinical hypertension, 11(7), 358-368.

Reddy, K., & Katan, M. (2004). Diet, nutrition and the prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Public health nutrition, 7(1), 167-186.

Introduction

Medically, for one to be healthy; as concerns one’s blood pressure, the body’s arteries must maintain a pressure that should not exceed 120 systolic (maximum amount) and 80 diastolic (minimum amounts). If the body fails to maintain such pressures; more so in elevated states, two cases of blood pressure anomalies result namely: pre-hypertension and hypertension.

The former has a blood pressure ranging from 139 systolic to 89 diastolic and in most cases, it is a clear indication of likelihoods of hypertension occurring. The latter has blood pressure ranging from 140 systolic to 90 diastolic; hence, hypertension (Medilexicon International Limited, 2010, Para. 2-3).

This is one of the most chronic and common blood pressure disorders, with many associated health complications. In common life scenarios, it is very hard for individuals to recognize they suffer from the ailment, because it lacks clear symptoms that are detectable physically. In addition, the fact that, it lacks common symptoms; because of the variations that occur among different ailing individuals symptomatically, makes it harder for one to detect that, they are suffering from hypertension.

This fact makes most individuals call it the “silent assassin,” because most individuals discover they are suffering from the ailment when it is in its advanced stages. Two main forms of this ailment exist; essential and secondary, which primarily depend on the causal factors. That is, the former has no proved medical cause whereas, the latter results due to other external factors, which include tumors and kidney failures.

It is important to note that, early detection of the ailment can help in taming side effects that may result from elevated blood pressure however, if the same never happens, its persistent state is the main contributor of most health complications, which include arterial aneurysm, renal failures, and many heart complications (Cunha & Marks, 2010, p.1).

History of Hypertension

This blood pressure anomaly affects more than seventy five million U.S. inhabitants, a problem that becomes more serious in developing nations, due to lack of proper medication and detection mechanisms. It is important to note that, the condition is more prevalent among the elderly, although it also affects a good percentage of children and adults.

Hypertension is a historical health problem, which has been under study by most concerned medical researchers. The whole hypertension idea dates back to the time when Europeans endeavored to ascertain the blood circulation system. The main issue of concern then was the flow of blood and air in the human body.

As the quest continued, scientist such as Leonardo da Vinci came up with the coronary theory of blood circulation hence, disqualifying early held notions. As times passed and more questions arose as concerned blood pressure, scientist such as Cesalpino and Realdo Colombo advanced the theory of blood circulation and pressure, by bringing in the artery concept, as pertained blood circulation.

By the 19^th century, the entire concept of blood pressure received a lot of support with Claude’s findings on working of vascular nerves. Such discoveries gave a methodology that Richard bright used to link arterial contractions and blood pressure.

By wake of the 20^th century, scientist such as McLeod and Framingham in their quest to understand the factors behind hypertension linked various heart ailments to hypertension hence, making individuals to venture into discovering its causes, treatment and prevention mechanisms. In addition, this formed the main basis of the current understanding of the ailment hence, the current taming strategies adopted in most medical scenarios (Blood Pressure, 2010, p.1 and Hamdy, 2002, p.1)

Reference List

Blood Pressure. A brief history of Hypertension. Blood Pressure. Web.

Cunha, P. J., & Marks, J. W. (2010). High blood pressure (hypertension). Medicine Net. Web.

Hamdy, R. C. (2002). Hypertension: a turning point in the history of medicine and mankind. South Medical Journal, 94(11), p.1. Web.

Medilexicon international limited. What is hypertension? What causes hypertension?Medical News Today. Web.