Issue of Hypertension for Elderly

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Hypertension among the Older Adults
Hypertension Comorbidities and Risk Factors
Treatments: Medication
Treatments: Lifestyle Modification
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Hypertension is a medical condition where a person’s blood pressure rises above 140/90 mmHg. According to Anandita et al. (2020), more than 76 million adult Americans have hypertension. There are four stages of blood pressure anybody can have, including normal, elevated, stage 1, and stage 2 (Anandita et al., 2020). Above normal ranges lead to cardiovascular events and increase mortalities. However, well-controlled hypertension can improve quality of life and reduce cardiovascular morbidity. Nevertheless, successful management is low and undertreatment is widespread.

Hypertension among the Older Adults

Although there is no direct relationship between aging and hypertension, the majority of older adults have stage 1 and 2 blood pressure levels. Statistics show that around 70% of the elderly aged 65 years and above have hypertension, and only 23% to 38% of these are well controlled (Anandita et al., 2020). Anandita et al. (2020) forecast that one in five Americans will be 65 years and over by 2030, placing them as potential hypertension patients. However, managing and treating hypertension in the elderly faces challenges such as increased antihypertensive meds, difficulty in maintaining modified lifestyles, and no tolerance to beta and alpha-blockers.

Hypertension Comorbidities and Risk Factors

Older persons have unique characteristics, making the control and treatment of hypertension complicated. There are risk factors related to hypertension in the older adult population. These include heightened sensitivity to salt intake, orthostatic hypertension, arterial stiffness, and impaired vasodilation (Mohamed et al., 2020). Orthostatic hypertension may occur when changing position from supine to standing, causing injuries, syncope, and falls. Isolated BP is where the SBP is high while DBP remains at a normal level and is linked to high stroke rates, cardiovascular mortality, and myocardial infarction. Comorbidities of hypertension include diabetes, kidney diseases, hypercholesterolemia, and cardiovascular diseases (Mohamed et al., 2020). In addition, above-normal BP levels increase the risk of developing these and other related illnesses.

Treatments: Medication

Pharmacological treatment of hypertension works as the first line of defense against health deterioration and the development of comorbidities. Antihypertensive medications should be given as early as possible and at the lowest dose. Thiazide diuretics are the most tolerated and used among the elderly as a first-line option but when contraindicated or for persons with heart rhythm problems or angina, some other blockers and inhibitors are given, such as calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors (Setters & Holmes, 2017). As mentioned earlier, beta and alpha-blockers have more negative effects than benefits among the older adult population, such as increasing the risk of orthostatic hypertension, and are not used.

Treatments: Lifestyle Modification

Lifestyle modification entails exercising and reducing weight, fat consumption, sodium chloride, and alcohol consumption. These lifestyle changes are proven to lower blood pressure by two to 14 mmHg if followed as instructed by the physician (Setters & Holmes, 2017). For instance, lower weight decreases SBP by 5-10mmHg for every 10 kilograms the patient loses. These changes are used alongside medications for at least three months. Then the meds are reduced and eliminated when the patient has developed the desired BP levels and is disciplined to follow a fully modified lifestyle.

Conclusion

High blood pressure is causing serious health conditions among the elderly in the US and is complex to manage due to adverse side effects, medication tolerance issues, and poor outcomes. Although medications and lifestyle changes can manage and control hypertension, older adults should focus on lifestyle modification to avoid the side effects of drugs. Maintaining healthy BP levels will eliminate or lower the chances of stroke, heart attacks, kidney illnesses, and even death. Older persons who can maintain a healthy weight, avoid alcohol, reduce salt intake, and exercise will show more success in BP levels.

References

Anandita, M. D., Mehta, A., Yang, E., & Parapid, B. M. (2020). Older adults and hypertension: Beyond the 2017 guideline for prevention, detection. Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults, 26.

Mohamed, S. F., Uthman, O. A., Caleyachetty, R., Chumo, I., Mutua, M. K., Asiki, G., & Gill, P. (2020). Uncontrolled hypertension among patients with comorbidities in sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews, 9(1), 1-5. Web.

Setters, B., & Holmes, H. M. (2017). Hypertension in the older adult. Primary Care, 44(3), 529. Web.

Click Here To Order Now!