This document discusses hypertension, or high blood pressure. It notes that hypertension affects around 50 million people in the US. The main types are primary hypertension, which has no known cause, and secondary hypertension, which is caused by another disease like kidney disease. Risk factors for hypertension include genetics, family history, obesity, stress, alcohol, sodium, tobacco, and age. Untreated hypertension can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss. African Americans have a higher risk than other populations. Treatment involves lifestyle changes and medication, with the goal of controlling blood pressure.

1. Blood Pressure:
Hypertension
From Bethel University Nursing Students

2. Types of Hypertension
 Affects ~50 million people in the US
 Types:
 1. Primary
 Chronic high blood pressure without a source or associated
with any other disease
 Most common form of hypertension
 2. Secondary
 Elevation of blood pressure associated with another disease
such as kidney disease

3. Causes
 Genetics-some people are prone to hypertension simply based off
of their genetic makeup
 Family History- your risk for high blood pressure/hypertension
increases if it is in your family history
 Environment
 Inactivity
 Stress
 Obesity
 Alcohol
 High Sodium Diet
 Tobacco Use
 Age
 Menopausal Medications

4. Further Complications of High
Blood Pressure
 Thickening of the heart muscle
 Increased workload of the heart
 May lead to other conditions such as:
 Heart attack
 Stroke
 Renal (Kidney) Failure
 Loss of vision

5. Who is at Risk??
 African Americans have a higher risk of high blood
pressure/hypertension
 40% of all African Americans in the US will develop
hypertension in comparison to 27% in white
populations
 This is due to:
 African Americans respond differently to Blood Pressure
medications
 African Americans have a higher sensitivity to salt
 ½ teaspoon of salt can raise your blood pressure 5mmHg

6. Signs and Symptoms
 Diagnosed through repeat blood pressure readings
 Primary Hypertension does not have symptoms other
than high blood pressure
 Secondary Hypertension
 Most likely caused by Renal Disorders, symptoms you will
see:
 Decreased urine formation
 Increased sodium and water retention

7. Treatments
 Step 1:
 Lifestyle modifications
 Diet and exercise
 Limit alcohol and tobacco use
 Reduce stress factors
 Step 2:
 If lifestyle changes are not enough, drug therapy will be
introduced
 Step 3:
 If previous steps don’t work, drug dose or type will be changed
or another drug is added
 Step 4:
 More medications are added until blood pressure is controlled

8. Prevention
 Lifestyle changes
 Having regular checkups with your physician
 Education
 Being aware of your blood pressure and where it should
be
 Understanding your personal risk factors
 Engaging in community health awareness acitivities

9. Living With High Blood
Pressure
 Living with High Blood Pressure requires a lot of lifestyle
changes
 Diet
 Exercise
 Taking prescribed medications as required by your doctor
 Recognize it is an ongoing process which requires regular
checkups, taking medication regularly and checking blood
pressure regularly
 Recognizing there can be complications with pregnancy
while living with high blood pressure
 Damage to kidneys and other organs in mother and fetus
 Low birth weight
 Preeclampsia

10. References
 Powerpoint notes taken from Dr. Van
Berkhom, Professor of Biology at Bethel
Univeristy, Hypertension lecture
 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-
topics/topics/hbp/signs.html