BMJ Best Practice Podcast Hypertension
9 snips
Jan 15, 2020 In this engaging discussion, Gregory Lip, an expert in cardiovascular medicine, dives deep into hypertension, a silent condition affecting many. He explores its definition as a continuum, emphasizing current blood pressure targets and the importance of home monitoring. Lip also discusses the significance of 24-hour ambulatory monitoring and the pitfalls of white coat hypertension. He shares insights on effective management strategies, including lifestyle changes and medication combinations, while highlighting the vital connection between hypertension and atrial fibrillation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hypertension As A Continuous Risk
- Hypertension is a continuous cardiovascular risk, not a binary condition.
- Treatment thresholds reflect where benefits outweigh harms, with common targets under 140/90 and 130/80 for high-risk patients.
Assess For Target Organ Damage
- Check for target organ damage including kidneys, heart (ECG/echo), eyes and signs of stroke or heart failure.
- Use these findings to guide urgency and intensity of blood pressure treatment.
Confirm Diagnosis With Home Or ABPM
- Use home blood pressure monitoring and consider ambulatory monitoring to confirm diagnosis and avoid white coat effects.
- Aim targets per guidelines; European targets ~140/90 and some groups aim for <130/80.