1. Besides renovascular and the traditional endocrine causes of hypertension, what are eight uncommon, but important, causes of secondary hypertension? • Obstructive sleep apnea (typically causing hyperaldosteronism) • Drug-induced hypertension…
Volume 1. What is meant by volume? Physicians use the terms “volume” and “extracellular fluid volume” interchangeably. Because sodium is largely restricted to the extracellular fluid (ECF), total body sodium…
1. When is pharmacologic treatment of hypertension indicated? When an individual’s blood pressure (BP) does not fall below goal after a suitable period of intensive lifestyle modifications, antihypertensive drug therapy…
1. What nonpharmacologic strategies can be used to treat hypertension? Several nonpharmacologic strategies are available to improve blood pressure control among essential hypertensive patients. By extension, similar strategies may be…
1. How does a “hypertensive emergency” differ from “hypertensive urgency”? A “hypertensive emergency” is a clinical situation in which severely elevated blood pressure is associated with acute, progressive target-organ damage…
1. What is resistant hypertension (RH)? Is it the same as refractory hypertension? Hypertension is considered resistant if the blood pressure (BP) cannot be reduced below target levels ( Box…
Hyperaldosteronism 1. What is hyperaldosteronism? Hyperaldosteronism is a disorder with a characteristic set of signs and symptoms resulting from excessive effects of aldosterone or a similar mineralocorticoid agent, which typically…
1. What clinical syndromes are associated with renal artery stenosis? Renovascular hypertension, progressive loss of kidney function from ischemic nephropathy, and recurrent episodes of flash pulmonary edema (meaning acute/abrupt onset…
1. What is the epidemiology of hypertension? Hypertension remains a common disease among Americans. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reveal that 29% of Americans are hypertensive;…
1. How is hypertension defined and classified? The Eighth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (Joint National Committee 8), published…