Do Calcium Channel Blockers Play A Role For Preventing Hypertensive Encephalopathy?

Modern medical advancements have significantly decreased the prevalence and severity of infectious disease as well as the treatment of acute, traumatic conditions. Pharmacological research has also gained insight into the management of chronic disease. Still, there is an epidemic of chronic, treatable diseases like stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease. Hypertension proves to be the underlying factor associated with these diseases. Hypertension is often referred to as the silent killer because of its indication in deadly disease, and the importance of monitoring ones blood pressure is vital. Lifestyle, diet, and genetic predisposition are all factors of high blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure above safe levels, known as hypertension, puts elevated physical stress on the renal and cardiovascular systems. By controlling this factor in patients, healthcare providers can decrease cardiovascular events, improve health outcomes, and decrease overall mortality. Patient education is often overlooked in its role in the control and prevention of high blood pressure. This paper analyzes the causes and physiology behind high blood pressure as they relate to the current nursing interventions. The role of nurses is discussed in relation to patient education regarding high blood pressure, and educational approaches are analyzed.

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, has become a major risk factor for several types of heart disease across the globe. In the United States alone, nearly 70 million adults have been diagnosed with this condition [1]. Hypertension is a condition in which arterial walls experience extreme force from blood flowing through; long-term force against artery walls will lead to more serious health problems such as stroke, renal failure, and other cardiovascular diseases [2]. If the proper steps to treat hypertension are not taken, patients have a high risk of developing atherosclerosis, a condition that causes arteries to harden significantly. Smoking, obesity, lack of physical activity, high alcohol consumption, and high sodium intake are factors that may cause an individual to be diagnosed with hypertension [3] Detection of hypertension is crucial in order to reduce the incidence of death by cardiovascular disease [1].

The concern on whether anti-hypertensive’s should be withheld in patients who are hypertensive has been debatable in the recent past. Generally, the treatment of hypertension among hospitalized patients is basically an opportunity to enhance the recognition and treatment of blood pressure (Axon, Nietert & Egan, 2011, p.246). This is mainly because hypertension is a basic risk factor for heart diseases, stroke, and death whose impact is widespread to nearly 70 million adults in America. There have been numerous educational initiatives and publication of treatment processes to address this condition in the past few decades. Despite these measures, nearly 39 million Americans are at risk of hypertension because they have not reached their desired or optimal blood pressure.

The major health problem selected for this project was hypertension (Harrison et al, 2011). It is identified as a cardio vascular disease risk factor such as dementia, chronic kidney disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke (NICE, 2011). It can be missed easily, as in various instances it is asymptomatic as well as it is also known as a silent killer. The Hypertension is thought to be a disease of vascular regulation ensuing from arterial pressure control mechanisms malfunction (extracellular fluid volume, rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and CNS) that results in elevation of BP by means of enhanced peripheral vascular resistance, and cardiac output. There are 2 basic hypertension types. Around 90 to 95 percent of the individuals have primary hypertension which is linked with change in lifestyle as well as needs medical treatment. On the other hand, 5-10% has secondary hypertension which is linked with various other diseases for instance pregnancy, thyroid, and renal (Haslam and James, 2005). It is estimated that around 1 in 20 adults will have increased BP of 160/100 mmHg and above that results in either more than one predisposing aspects (Gemmell et al, 2006).

Hypertension, sometimes known as “Silent Killer” is America’s freighting combative illness we struggle to regulate. Due too many health risk factors, many people are sometimes unaware of hypertension until suffering from severe damaging effects.

If diabetes is not diagnosed at an early stage, individuals will not notice the presence of the symptoms until they experience trouble with their heart, brain, kidney, and etc. Therefore, it is always best to speak to a health care provider or ones doctor regarding hypertension. In 2009, Americans visited their health care providers more than 55 million times to treat their high blood pressure. (Roger, Lloyd-Jones, 2012). One can also prevent the risk of hypertension by exercising regular, maintaining a healthy body weight, and avoiding heavy salt intake and excess alcohol use. Treatment is also available for hypertension. Various drugs like diuretics which work on the kidney to flush out excess water and salt from one’s body, beta and

JNC 8 has a hypertension guideline algorithm. Patients older than 60 should be placed on pharmacological treatment if SPB is 150 mm Hg or higher and DBP is 90 mm Hg or higher. Target goal is 150/90 Patient less than 60 should be placed on pharmacological treatment if SPB is 140 mm Hg or higher and DBP is 90 mm Hg or higher. Target goal is 140/90. Initial drug of choice for nonblack patients is an ACEI, ARB, thiazide or CCB alone or in combination. Black patients should be started on a thiazide or CCB alone or in combo. It is recommended to start one drug titrate to maximum dose and then add another drug if target goal has not been achieved. Combination therapy is recommended if BP is greater than 20/10 mm Hg from target. I also gives a guideline for all ages if the patient is diabetic without kidney disease or the patient has kidney disease without diabetes (Armstrong, 2014).

The following section is broken into six subsections that will assess how each topic relates to JNC 6, 7, and 8. The subsections are organized into the following: algorithms, classification of hypertension, lifestyle modifications, pharmacological treatment, and management of care. It is important to note that JNC 6 and 7 have a greater correlation in format and the types of recommendations presented to clinicians. Contrastingly JNC 8 varies in format, as well as the type of recommendations presented to clinicians, therefore each of the subsections may not contain information on JNC 8.

Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker which can be used alone or in conjunction with other medications for treatment of angina and hypertension. It decreases the contractility of the arterial smooth muscle as well as the subsequent vasoconstriction through inhibition of calcium ions influx through the L-type calcium channels. As a result, the coronary and systemic arteries become dilated and the delivery of oxygen to the myocardial tissue is increased. Furthermore, the total peripheral resistance is decreased as well as the systemic blood pressure and afterload.

The need for evolving guidelines has stemmed from groundbreaking research on the topic of hypertension and antihypertensive medications. In the last two decades, there has been a change

Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death because it has almost no warning signs. Conventional treatments can control blood pressure through the use of prescription drugs. New advances in medicine may offer a better prognosis with a lowered risk of side effects.

In United States, about 33% of adults have hypertension or elevated blood pressure. Hypertension can be classified as primary, which developed due to genetic factors, such as family history, and imbalances to regulate electrolytes like calcium, sodium, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone imbalance and sympathetic nervous system hypersensitivity. In this type of hypertension, patients are most of the time symptom free, however, some may experience throbbing headache, worsening in the morning when they wake, and they report hearing their heart beat in the ears, especially when they go to bed at night or when it is quiet(Goolsby, Grubbs, & Goolsby,

The purpose of this report is two discuss the Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, proposed benefits, research method, results of research, and possible-nursing implications of newly approved drugs for the treatment of hypertension. These drugs include Atacand HCT and Diltiazem HCL. All newly approved drugs from the FDA are either new drugs or new formulations of older drugs. The information contained in this report was derived from various web pages and online search engines.

Approximately one in every three adult’s ages 20 years old and older are diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension affects 78 million people in the United States and is equally prevalent in both men and woman (Crabtree et al., 2013). Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (Hajjar & Kotchen, 2003). It can lead to stroke, myocardial infarction, renal failure, heart failure, neurological issues, and death if not detected early and not treated properly (James, Oparil, Carter, & et al., 2014). Approximately 9.4 million deaths in 2010 were attributed to high blood pressure (Angell, De Cock, & Frieden, 2015). About 54% of strokes, 47% of coronary heart disease, and 25 % of other cardiovascular diseases are attributed to high blood pressure (Arima, Barzi, & Chalmers, 2011).

The two major types of hypertension are primary and secondary. Primary hypertension accounts for more than 90% of all cases and has no known cause, although it is hypothesized that genetic factors, hormonal changes, and the altercations in sympathetic tone all may play a role in its development. Secondary hypertension develops as a consequence of an underlying disease or condition. The prevention and treatment of hypertension is a major public health issue. When blood pressure is controlled, cardiovascular, renal disease, and stroke may be prevented. The JCN, reported more than 122 million individuals in American are overweight or obese, consume large amounts of dietary sodium and alcohol, and do not eat adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables; less than 20% exercise regularly. Both modifiable and non-modifiable factors play a role in the development of hypertension