Hypertension 101: High Blood Pressure

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.

During my clinical observation, the patient presented with hypertension. Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. Blood pressure can be described as “the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries” (High Blood Pressure Fact Sheet). High blood pressure itself is not a problem but it can be very dangerous because it can increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. There are many different behaviors and medical conditions that can increase your risk of hypertension. Diabetes and prehypertension are two medical conditions that can increase your risk of developing blood pressure. Some unhealthy behaviors that can contribute to developing hypertension are consuming large quantities of alcohol, eating foods that are high in salt (sodium), being overweight, and smoking tobacco products. These risks are associated with secondary hypertension. In primary hypertension there is no known cause.

Because hypertension can be asymptomatic, it is necessary to increase awareness of such a harmful condition. The lack of symptoms in individuals who have high blood pressure is a serious challenge that public health officials in the United States must face. [1]. High blood pressure is a grave problem in the United States because it affects many

Hypertension is sometimes referred to as the silent killer (Aycock, Kirkendoll, & Gordon, 2013). Today it is a public health problem. According to the American Heart Association 2013 Statistical Fact Sheet (2013), one out of every three adults has high blood pressure, which is estimated at 77.9 million people (AHA, 2013). High blood pressure is also referred to as hypertension. Hypertension is a prevalent medical condition that carries with it the risk factor for increased chances of heart disease and stroke (Gillespie & Hurvitz, 2013). Hypertension remains one of the top 10 causes of worldwide disability-adjusted life years (as cited in Drenjančević-Perić et al., 2011). For the estimated 348, 102 deaths in 2009, high blood pressure was listed as the primary or contributing cause of death (AHA, 2013). Despite the health risk associated with hypertension, the diagnoses of high blood pressure continue to rise. By 2030, hypertension is expected to increase by 7.2% from 2013 estimates (AHA, 2013).

Hypertension affects 1 in every 3 adults in the United States. In addition, 25% of the adults have prehypertension (Whitt-Glover et al., 2013). The disease can go undetected for years until a stroke or any other cardiovascular related emergency occurs. This is because undetected and/or untreated HTN causes damage to blood vessels and other essential body organs like the kidney.

Blood pressure is taken in order to assess any precautions for treatment. An elevated blood pressure between the ranges of 130-139/85-89 mmHg is known as prehypertension. Prehypertension is a health concern due to an increase risk for cardiovascular disease and organ damage if continued left untreated. Cardiovascular related events associated with prehypertension include heart failure and myocardial infarction. Prehypertension can be caused by an increased amount of stress, lifestyle changes, or can be caused by a secondary disease. Factors that can influence high blood pressure include obesity, smoking, alcohol, excessive sodium intake, lack of physical activity, and diet. Secondary diseases associated with high blood pressure include diabetes mellitus and kidney disease.

High blood pressure increases your risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death for both Florida and the United States (Centers for disease control, 2017). High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is known as the “silent killer” because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. Hypertension damages blood vessels in the organs, reducing their ability to work properly (National institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases, 2016). About 1 of 3 U.S. adults—or about 75 million people—have high blood pressure. Only 54% of these people have their high blood pressure under control (Centers for disease control, 2017). Hypertension education, which focuses on controlling the disease with medication, diet, and losing weight, is important in preventing or delaying the progression of serious complications. Most people diagnosed with hypertensive disease will need to see a medical professional who will recommend lifestyle changes to help you control and prevent high blood pressure (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2006, p. 1742).

High blood pressure AKA Hypertension is inflicting damage to the guts, kidney, and brain, despite the fact that there are not any visible indicators noticed nor the patient feels no symptoms.

High blood pressure (hypertension ) is defined as high pressure (tension ) in the arteries , which are the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body . High blood pressure is considered one of the highest causes of morbidity , one of the main leading causes of cardiovascular disease , and social global burden health risk factor . In addition to the high-cost burden to the global health service providers . About 70 million American adults have high blood pressure . Only about half of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control . Nearly 1 of 3 American adults has prehypertension , blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal , but not yet in the high blood pressure range . High blood pressure

The number of people living with hypertension (high blood pressure) is predicted to be 1.56 billion worldwide by the year 2025. In the US, around 75 million people have hypertension, with more people dying of hypertension-related cardiovascular disease than from the next three deadliest diseases combined. In 2011-2012 in the US, about a third of all people over the age of 20 years had

Another health concern that is affect my community is hypertension. It is important to note that over 70 million people in the united states are diagnosed with high blood pressure (MacGill, 2016). And as a result, the members of the community in which one lives are not taught the importance of normalizing their blood pressure.

Hypertension (HT), defined as a chronic elevation of systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure (BP), is in all probability the most common chronic disease today. Clinically hypertension is not a disease at usual sense it is a risk factor for many future vascular diseases1,2. In human body blood pressure is maintained by several factors such as kidney, sympathetic nervous system, hormonal mechanisms along with the diet taken. These include lipids, magnesium, sodium, potassium and the total energy intake3.

Primary Hypertension, also known as essential hypertension is a type of elevated blood pressure in which there is no identifiable cause. It is noted to be a complex interplay, including;

Essential hypertension also referred to as primary hypertension is a disease that doesn't show any symptoms. When symptoms do show that is shows some long term effects that it has had on other organs. Essential hypertension is an idiopathic disease, meaning there isn't no identifiable cause, however it tends to be the consequence of an interaction between environment and genetic factors. That could be why it is called the silent killer, the only way to be diagnosed is by having your blood pressure checked three times at separate physician appointments. Hypertension can lead to many diseases such as, arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease,

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