MediFocus MedCenter ©
Hypertension
(NK007)
Introduction
High blood pressure, also called hypertension (HTN) occurs when the body's smaller blood vessels (arterioles) narrow, causing the blood to exert excessive pressure against the vessel walls. The heart must therefore work harder to maintain the higher pressure. Over time, damage to the brain, eye and kidney can result ("target organ damage").
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. The most significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease is hypertension. High blood pressure is the key risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, and mortality.
Essential or primary hypertension means that there is no underlying condition that is causing the blood pressure to increase. Up to 95% of hypertension is the essential type. When an underlying cause is detected, the elevated blood pressure is considered to be secondary hypertension.
Unless blood pressure readings are very high, initial efforts at controlling blood pressure in essential hypertension are usually based on lifestyle changes. These include weight loss (if appropriate), exercise, dietary changes, and stress reduction. The goal of hypertensive treatment is to reduce overall cardiovascular disease risk and thus its morbidity and mortality.
More aggressive control of blood pressure is recommended for persons with comorbid conditions such as diabetes or renal (kidney) insufficiency.
MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information
The Medifocus Guide on Hypertension provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:
- What are the most common symptoms of hypertension?
- Are there any recognized risk factors for developing hypertension?
- What kinds of medical tests are used to establish the diagnosis of hypertension?
- What is the current standard of care for the treatment of hypertension?
- What treatment options are available for the management of hypertension?
- Are there any promising new developments or potential breakthroughs in treatment?
- Who are the most notable medical authorities who specialize in hypertension?
- Where are the leading hospitals and centers of research for hypertension?
- What are the most important questions to ask my doctor about hypertension?
What Your Doctor Reads:
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
- Hypertensive emergencies.
Lancet. 2000
- Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition: from viper to patient.
Heart. 2000
- Elevated systolic blood pressure as a cardiovascular risk factor.
American Journal of Cardiology. 2000
- Choosing a first-line drug in the management of elevated blood pressure: what is the evidence? 3: Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors.
CMAJ. 2000
- Choosing a first-line drug in the management of elevated blood pressure: what is the evidence? 2: Beta-blockers.
CMAJ. 2000
- Choosing a first-line drug in the management of elevated blood pressure: what is the evidence? 1: Thiazide diuretics.
CMAJ. 2000
- The diagnosis and management of hypertensive crises.
Chest. 2000
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers: equal or preferred substitutes for ACE inhibitors?.
Archives of Internal Medicine. 2000
- When antihypertensive monotherapy fails: fixed-dose combination therapy.
Southern Medical Journal. 2000
- Insulin resistance and hypertension. Patients in double jeopardy for cardiovascular disease.
Geriatrics. 2000
MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information
MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.
MediFocus Guides are the perfect solution for consumers who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of their medical issue and avail themselves of the same type of professional level medical information that is used by physicians and other health-care professionals to help then in the clinical decision making process.
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