Understanding Hypertension And Its Management In NuHypertensive Patients: An Essay.

Hypertensive Patients

Discuss about the NuHypertensive Patients.

High blood pressure is a health condition that is related to abnormal functioning of the heart. The heart uses too much energy to force blood through the blood vessels, that is, arteries and veins. This further hardens the blood vessels thus making more hard for the blood to go through easily. It can be referred to as a condition whereby the heart pumps blood at a high rate and speed than the normal recommended rate. This is a fatal health problem that must be dealt with as soon as possible the moment it is noticed, else it may lead to death of the victim. The condition is caused by several factors, most of which are caused by human activities or lifestyle. Medical research shows that majority of heart related ailments start as a result of the food eaten by people, the lifestyle they are having, and so many other human activities. However, research indicates that high blood pressure is a manageable condition and the patient can still live the normal lifestyle they had before the attack commenced. If they follow the prescribed measures given to them by the doctors without fail, then there are high chances that the hypertension condition will cease to exist and the patient will go back to his or her normal life condition. The lowest reading of blood pressure is diastolic, which the blood pressure rate must not go below. Blood pressure has also the highest reading called systolic, which is also fatal if the pressure rate exceeds. Abnormal blood pressure is caused by among other things; smoking, stress, genetics, being obese, eating too much salt in foods. Sleep apnea and many other.

Hypertension is one of the circulatory disorders that affect majority of people in the world currently. Medical statistics have revealed shocking figures about the number of people suffering from hypertension in the world. One out of every three people who were interviewed have hypertension symptoms or suffered from the condition previously. According to the statistics, men of a certain age group are the most likely to be affect compared to their women counterparts (Epidemiology: Hypertension - Rising with Increasing Obesity and Population Growth, 2012). However, we are informed that at some point, both the gender suffers the same fate. This is due to the fact that the circulation system of older people functions almost the same way and at the same rate. This is attributed to the fact that majority of these people have blood pressure rate higher than 140/90 mm Hg, which according to the medics, is very high and can easily lead to heart failure and other heart related illnesses (Esler, et al, 2008). The following are signs and symptoms characterised by hypertension:

1. Headrace
2. Sleepiness
3. Comma
4. Confusion
5. Severe headache.
6. Fatigue or confusion.
7. Vision problems.
8. Chest pain.
9. Difficulty breathing.
10. Irregular heartbeat.
11. Blood in the urine.
12. Pounding in your chest, ears, neck, etc.

Management of Hypertension

Hypertensive patients can manage the condition by visiting medical facilities and getting professional advice and treatment from qualified medical personnel. The treatment involves drugs administration and change of lifestyle as well (Gallego, et al, 2013). Doctors address that the first step towards hypertension treatment and management is change of lifestyle. Lifestyles of individuals affects the levels of BP. Research indicates that a decrease the levels of BP concentration by as little as 2 mm Hg is able to lower the chances of heart attack by close to 15% and as well reduce the risks of getting artery related coronary diseases or infections by close to between 6% and 7% in a community setup. The patients are advised to do enough physical exercises. They are also required to eat the foods that aid in healing of blood vessels and their proper growth as well as healing. Smoking cigarette hardens the walls of arteries in the body thus making it hard for blood to flow easily. This causes the heart to pump blood using excessive force which leads to heart attack. Hypertension has also been characterised by too much intake of alcohol (Global Hypertension Experts Launch First-of-its-Kind Online Resource to Help Healthcare Professionals Address Most Challenging Form of Hypertension, 2012). It, therefore, means that everyone within the community setup should take less of alcoholic beverages or avoid it altogether for a better functioning heart, which means that the rate of blood pressure will be normal. Hypertensive patients also need to reduce the overall body weight. Australian medical journal indicates clearly that obese people are at a higher risk of suffering from hypertension as compared to their non-obese counterparts (Global Hypertension Market and Competitive Landscape, 2016). This is because the heart uses too much energy to push blood to the entire body of the overweight person, thus making the hear become fatigue at later lead to hypertension.

Doctors can also use medical procedures to help treat hypertension. However, the type of drugs they (doctors) give depends on a number of factor. First, they need to know the causes of the hypertension, they will monitor the medical history of the patients to know what other health problems the patient is suffering from. the doctor may then give the patient anti-hypertensive drugs which will also reduce hypertension and its effects. Doctors do give ‘water pills’, which are also referred to as diuretics (Global Hypertension Market and Competitive Landscape 2015-2020 - Research and Markets, 2016). Diuretics are used to make the kidneys work harder to remove excessive salt and water from the body. This is done because the body does not have enough water so removal of excess salt means that the body will not need more water to neutralize the salty contents. Another medicine administered is called better-blocker. These medicines are generally used to slow down the rate of heart beat and also – prevent the heart from squeezing and un-squeezing very hard. Thus reducing the energy needed to pump blood while also making the blood flow using much reduced force (Gu & Dong, 2016).

Amlodipine

This is another method used to treat and manage hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. It should be remembered that a low blood pressure prevents the victim patient from contacting more diseases such as kidney problems, stroke, heart attack and other related ailments. Amlodipine is used by medics to relax blood vessel such as veins and arteries. The drug is administered to the hypertensive patient so that the pumped blood from the heart can go through the vessels with much ease. Medical reports also reveal that people who suffer from hypertension experience a certain level of chest pain, a medical condition known as angina (Keogh & Wlodarczyk, 2004). Apart from relaxing blood vessels, amlodipine is also used to prevent angina. The drug is used to boost the patient’s ability to do physical exercises, which goes hand in hand to preventing hypertension. When administered, amlodipine also reduces the rate at which the chest pain occurs. This will make the patient have more easy and relaxed time thus making him or her feel better. However, the doctors warn that amlodipine is only for reducing the chest pain felt by hypertensive patient and should not be used for treatment purposes (Keogh, 2011).

Amlodipine is administered via mount. Others may prefer to take the medicine alongside food or without. But this must only be according to the prescriptions given by the doctor and not a self-choice. It always preferred to be taken only once every day for it to be effective and not to bring more harm to the patient. However, the full dosage given by the medical personnel depends on several factors including response of the patient to the drugs given so far and the condition of the patient medically. Amlodipine must be taken regularly in order for it to have best effect in the body (Krum, 2009). Medics also say that it is important to take the medicine at the same time daily to avoid forgetting and possible skips. Patients are required to continue taking amlodipine even after. The feel that they are now fine and free from hypertension. This is because a higher percentage of hypertensive patient do not have a strong feeling of being sick and so they might misinterpret their condition and stop the treatment. The following are other uses of amlodipine and what is treats;

1. Hypertension medications
2. Angina prevention
3. Other types of angina, for instance cases where chest pains are very strong
4. Chronic medication which, those that show characteristics of angina.  

This is a medical tablet used to treat hypertension. Just like amlodipine, chlorthalidone is used to get excess water that is not needed by the body and excess salt out of the body through urine. Chlorthalidone is taken as a pill after food and should not be taken without eating (Mallinckrodt's INOmax(R) Approved In Australia And Japan For Pulmonary Hypertension In Conjunction With Heart Surgery, 2015). This is because of its side effects to the patient. Medical personnel warn that in order to maximize its functionality in the body, chlorthalidone should be taken every once every day as prescribed by the physician. According to research, the drug maximizes its effects in the body when taken during morning hours as compared to other times of the day. This, therefore, mean that the drug should be taken immediately after breakfast every day. We are informed that chlorthalidone only controls the blood pressures of people but does not cure such ailments. In addition to that, the patients are advised to continue taking the same even if they feel like they need not to take the medicine anymore (Media Alert - Salt Storm! Hypertension Canada gathers experts to debate sodium limits, 2013). It is only the doctor who administered the drug can recommend whether to stop it or not. The drug is also used to cure people who are suffering from diabetes insipidus. In addition to that, chlorthalidone also prevents kidney stones, which is most prevalent to patients with calcium in blood. Scholarly information describes that women who are pregnant should not attempt the usage of chlorthalidone, unless it is absolutely necessary to do so (Mentz, et al, 2012). This is because the drug in question causes suppression of milk production in pregnant women, thus may make it difficult to breast feed the infants. The following are the effects of chlorthalidone to the patient taking it;

1. It causes reduction in potassium and magnesium in the patient’s body.
2. Increase the levels of uric acid in the human body.
3. After taking the drug, the patient light-headedness and dizziness as well.
4. It causes prolonged headache to patients.
5. The patient faces frequent vomiting most of the time.
6. Fatigue, after small amount of physical work.
7. The patient also feels abdominal pain. Others include but not limited to; fever, breathing difficulties, severe rushes with skin peel off.

Chlorthalidone

This is the most prevalent type of hart related diseases and affects majority of people in Australia. The disease is caused by atherosclerosis and leads to blockage of blood flow to the heart (Nguyen, 2016). Depending on the level of infection, the patient may become asymptomatic until when thrombosis occurs. Research indicates that coronary artery diseases are the leading resinous causes of death nowadays in Australia. The statistics produced by the world health organisation indicates that in every seven people in Australia, at least one has had coronary attack before or is currently suffering from heart related attack (Portal Hypertension Therapeutics, 2012). During diagnosis, the physician will first assess the patient and know his or her medical history and to also known the period which the patient has suffered from this illness. The following is a list of diagnosis procedures that they doctor may carry out.

• Electrocardiogram – this is a type of diagnosis whereby electric signals are recorded as they travel to the heart. The process helps the doctor know whether the patient suffered any form of heart attack previously or is in the process, thus giving proper medication. The exercise involves a patient wearing a portable monitor like apparatus from close to 24 hours, thus recording the needed results (Viruell-fuentes, Ponce & Alegría, 2012).
• Echocardiogram – this is a machine that uses sound waves to produce graphical images of the heart of the patient. This helps to know whether the entire heart is working towards pumping enough blood to other body parts or not. Research reveals that the parts of the heart that do not contribute immensely toward better operation of the heart may mean signs of heart attack or lower oxygen in those parts (Robergeet al, 2012). This, therefore, shows signs of coronary artery to the heart or other heart related problems.
• Stress tests – this method is used mostly when the patient displays sign of coronary artery disease when doing physical activity. At some point, the physician may be forced to use some types of medication instead of physical exercise depending on the level of heart infection and the overall ability of the patent. Flow of blood towards the heart vessels during hours of rest and stressful time can also be taken, a process called nuclear stress test (Strange, et al, 2011). This is whereby a tracer like object, which have got special types of cameras, is injected in the blood stream of the patient. This tracer is, therefore, able to identify specific areas of the heart where there is no enough flow of blood.
• Angiogram – the doctor injects a special type of a dye in the coronary arteries. The dye is thin but long tube called catheter. It goes through one of the arteries in the leg straight to the arteries found in the heart. Once it identifies a blockage in the blood vessel where treatment is possibly required, a special type of a balloon is then inflated in to the walls of the artery via the catheter. This widens the arteries thus increasing flow of blood. A mesh, called a stent, is then to continuously keep such an artery open for a specific period of time.
• Heart scan – doing computerised heart scans helps the medical personnel know whether the arteries of the heart are blocked or no.

The most preferred treatment method of CAD is a change in the lifestyle of the patients and the general community (Symplicity HTN-2 Investigators. "Renal sympathetic denervation in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension (The Symplicity HTN-2 Trial): a randomised controlled trial." The Lancet 376, no. 9756, 2010). People who have been diagnosed with CAD need to do the following to help improve their health standards;

1. Quit smoking (both active smoking and passive smoking).
2. Eat healthy foods and balanced diet.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Lose excess weight, through physical exercises.
5. Reduce stress.

Drugs can also be used to treat or better manage coronary artery diseases as well.

Conclusion

Hypertension is a disease that is associated with malfunctioning of the heart. The heart fails to operate in the normal way as needed for better functioning of the entire body mechanism. Reports indicate that a better number of people living in Australia suffer from this heart condition due to their own lifestyles. Better and healthy living is obtained through change of lifestyle. Research shows that is people change the types of food they eat to include balanced diet and natural vegetables and fruits, then chances of getting hypertension will be reduced by a very high percentage. Amlodipine and chlorthalidone are seen as the most used scientific methods of treating and managing high blood pressure. Both the methods almost work the same, even though doctors who handle hypertensive patients revel that majority of them prefer amlodipine to chlorthalidone because of its less side effects as compared to the later. Australian department of medical research states that majority of its citizens have shown improvement and reduction in rate of hypertension attached. This is attributed to the public knowhow that have been carried out in the entire country, enlightening the dangers of hypertension. During treatment of hypertension, doctors first administer small amount of medication to the patient. After monitoring the healing progress of such a patient, the doctor may decide to continue with more advanced treatments. Patients are then required to follow all the prescriptions given by the doctor strictly so that hypertension conditions can heal much faster. Skipping any of the prescribed medication may lead to a worsening condition and probably more dangers. Doing this also prolongs the healing periods.

Other Uses of Amlodipine

References

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Esler, M., Eikelis, N., Schlaich, M., Lambert, G., Alvarenga, M., Dawood, T., Kaye, D., Barton, D., Pier, C., Guo, L. and Brenchley, C., 2008. Chronic mental stress is a cause of essential hypertension: presence of biological markers of stress. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 35(4), pp.498-502.

Gallego, B., Runciman, W.B., Perez-Concha, O., Liaw, S., Day, R.O., Dunn, A.G. & Coiera, E. 2013, "The management of severe hypertension in Australian general practice", BMC Health Services Research, vol. 13, pp. 414.

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