Hypertension is such a dangerous health problem that should not be taken for granted or toiled with; it should be handled with the seriousness it deserves and everything should be done to prevent the nasty experiences that come with it. Anyone who wants to live long and enjoy life to the fullest must take his health serious and show concern when it comes to incurable conditions especially.
You should take Hypertension seriously because of the following reasons:
1. It is crippling: Some of the complications of hypertension are crippling e.g. Stroke or cardiovascular accident. This deadly complication can render a man who has been very active and agile completely helpless to himself, his family and the society at large. Inability to move a particular part of the body makes one dependent on others for hygiene, feeding, mobility, and sometimes speech. In order not to experience this state of complete dependence you must take this health monster serious and do all you can to lead an independent life.
2. Blindness: the worst thing that could happen to a man is for him to be blind; then he is unable to admire the beauty of his surrounding environment, the beauty of his wife, his new clothes, the faces of his new born children, the beautifully coloured flowers in his compound, his beautiful bed spread, just name them. Blindness is one of those things hypertension could cause and so in order not to live in perpetual darkness for the rest of your life you need to take it serious and if you are hypertensive you do your best to prevent this ugly complication from setting in by having your eyes examined from time to time.
3. Kidney damage: Have you ever thought of the possibility of living on a dialysis machine for life? Have you also thought of getting someone who is compatible to donate a kidney for you? Does the possibility of tissue rejection strike any fear inside you? Then think of taking your health serious. Visit your doctor and seek his help to prevent you from losing your priceless kidneys to hypertension.
4. Heart failure: Just like stroke, heart failure could make you live like vegetable if it ever happens to you (especially the serious type). What happens then? You feel tired all the time, you are no longer able to do those physically challenging things you could do before – no more football, boxing, cycling, sex, marathon, etc. Life would no longer make any meaning to you if you just exist but are not imparting your environment. Take your hypertension serious because it could really harm you and make you debilitated for the rest of your life.
5. Myocardial infarction: How about having an excruciating pain on your heart that could make you feel terrible all times, and living on drugs to kill the pain? A dead portion of your heart ensures that your heart is not able to carry out its normal duty of pumping blood to the rest of your body.
Hypertension must be taken seriously for the afore-mentioned reasons, especially because of the fact that once these complications set in they are very difficult or almost completely impossible to reverse.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Hypertension And Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a wonderful and joyous time in a woman’s life, but if you suffer with chronic hypertension, it can also be a scary time. And even if you’ve never suffered from high blood pressure while not with child, you still may experience hypertension during pregnancy. Let’s break it all down and examine the risks.
Chronic Hypertension – Chronic hypertension is when the mother has had an ongoing problem with high blood pressure, even before becoming pregnant. In normal pregnancies, a woman’s blood pressure tends to go down during the first 20 weeks of gestation, so if the patient is getting high readings at their regular prenatal check-ups, it is a good bet that they have chronic hypertension that has gone untreated, rather than gestational hypertension.
Treatment: The patient should consult with her health care practitioner to decide which treatment is best. If the patient is already on an anti-hypertensive medication, the caregiver will determine if the medication should be continued, substituted or stopped altogether. The patient must make certain she follows all of her doctor’s guidelines and does not try to self-treat with counterfeit medications or herbal supplements that have not been approved by her healthcare team.
Gestational Hypertension – This is the type of hypertension that occurs after 20 weeks gestation. If a patient shows readings significantly higher than during the early weeks of pregnancy, she may be exhibiting symptoms of gestational hypertension. Anything greater than 160/110 is considered dangerous and must be carefully observed.
Treatment: Mandatory rest periods, suspension of work and even hospitalization may be required to bring down a patient’s blood pressure. Otherwise, close observation of the mother and fetus will continue. The doctor may order fetal non-stress tests to be given twice weekly and/or ultrasounds to check in on the baby.
Preeclampsia/Eclampsia – The most severe form of pregnancy-induced hypertension is preeclampsia and eclampsia. This is when a patient’s high blood pressure is paired with bodily swelling that can’t be relieved and protein in the patient’s urine. If preeclampsia is not dealt with quickly, it can have dire effects on both the mother and the fetus. Furthermore, eclampsia can also result, which consists of the symptoms listed above plus maternal seizures and/or coma.
Treatment: If a patient gets to this point, the most effective treatment is delivery of the baby. If the fetus is not mature enough to live outside the womb, a medication called magnesium sulfate will likely be given intravenously to stop the progression of preeclampsia into eclampsia.
As always, a healthy diet and a moderate exercise plan even before getting pregnant are keys to keeping blood pressure normalized. Once you become pregnant, regular monitoring of your blood pressure at prenatal visits is essential, and swift action against impending problems is the safest bet.
Be well, take care of yourself, and enjoy your pregnancy.
**
Liberty Kontranowski is a freelance writer and blogger with hundreds of articles published online and in print, covering everything from sexual health to parenting to beauty, fashion, entertainment and more. Liberty is the newest member of the Secure Medical team providing the highest quality articles to AccessRx.com.
Chronic Hypertension – Chronic hypertension is when the mother has had an ongoing problem with high blood pressure, even before becoming pregnant. In normal pregnancies, a woman’s blood pressure tends to go down during the first 20 weeks of gestation, so if the patient is getting high readings at their regular prenatal check-ups, it is a good bet that they have chronic hypertension that has gone untreated, rather than gestational hypertension.
Treatment: The patient should consult with her health care practitioner to decide which treatment is best. If the patient is already on an anti-hypertensive medication, the caregiver will determine if the medication should be continued, substituted or stopped altogether. The patient must make certain she follows all of her doctor’s guidelines and does not try to self-treat with counterfeit medications or herbal supplements that have not been approved by her healthcare team.
Gestational Hypertension – This is the type of hypertension that occurs after 20 weeks gestation. If a patient shows readings significantly higher than during the early weeks of pregnancy, she may be exhibiting symptoms of gestational hypertension. Anything greater than 160/110 is considered dangerous and must be carefully observed.
Treatment: Mandatory rest periods, suspension of work and even hospitalization may be required to bring down a patient’s blood pressure. Otherwise, close observation of the mother and fetus will continue. The doctor may order fetal non-stress tests to be given twice weekly and/or ultrasounds to check in on the baby.
Preeclampsia/Eclampsia – The most severe form of pregnancy-induced hypertension is preeclampsia and eclampsia. This is when a patient’s high blood pressure is paired with bodily swelling that can’t be relieved and protein in the patient’s urine. If preeclampsia is not dealt with quickly, it can have dire effects on both the mother and the fetus. Furthermore, eclampsia can also result, which consists of the symptoms listed above plus maternal seizures and/or coma.
Treatment: If a patient gets to this point, the most effective treatment is delivery of the baby. If the fetus is not mature enough to live outside the womb, a medication called magnesium sulfate will likely be given intravenously to stop the progression of preeclampsia into eclampsia.
As always, a healthy diet and a moderate exercise plan even before getting pregnant are keys to keeping blood pressure normalized. Once you become pregnant, regular monitoring of your blood pressure at prenatal visits is essential, and swift action against impending problems is the safest bet.
Be well, take care of yourself, and enjoy your pregnancy.
**
Liberty Kontranowski is a freelance writer and blogger with hundreds of articles published online and in print, covering everything from sexual health to parenting to beauty, fashion, entertainment and more. Liberty is the newest member of the Secure Medical team providing the highest quality articles to AccessRx.com.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Hypertension: Nursing Management
Some patients may be admitted for the treatment of hypertensive crisis, control of complication or for the establishment of a treatment regimen. When on admission, here are some of the immediate cares that the nursing team could give to the patient to aid his speedy recovery:
1.Observation: Vital signs should be checked 2 hourly with emphasis on Blood pressure and pulse rate.
Monitor patient’s weight daily and keep proper record. This is to help detect oedema or weight loss. Check for side effects of drugs e.g. orthostatic hypotension.
2.Rest: Patient should be advised to avoid stress and tension. He should therefore have physical and mental rest in order to conserve energy.
Encourage moderate exercise e.g. walking if there is no dyspnoea. Mild tranquilizers may be given to enable patient sleep. Should there be dizziness patient should be protected from falls and injury.
3.Diet: Restrict sodium intake to about 4grams daily. Give light, easily digestible diet. Fatty food and excessive carbohydrate that can increase weight and cholesterol should be avoided. Coffee, tea, kola nuts, alcohol should be avoided or minimized.
4.Physical care: Assist patient with physical care if patient is very weak. Where there is blurred vision patient may require the use of medicated eye glasses. If there is bleeding from the nose (epistaxis) apply ice pack to the bridge of the nose and back of the neck. When the ice pack cannot control bleeding the nose may be packed. The pack should however be removed within few days. Make sure patient does not lie on one side of his body for several days in bed. If he is to be admitted for days, his position should be changed every 2-4 hours to prevent pressure sore from developing.
5.Elimination: Constipation should be avoided because it makes the patient strain at defecation thereby further elevating the blood pressure. Food rich in fibre should be given to prevent constipation.
1.Observation: Vital signs should be checked 2 hourly with emphasis on Blood pressure and pulse rate.
Monitor patient’s weight daily and keep proper record. This is to help detect oedema or weight loss. Check for side effects of drugs e.g. orthostatic hypotension.
2.Rest: Patient should be advised to avoid stress and tension. He should therefore have physical and mental rest in order to conserve energy.
Encourage moderate exercise e.g. walking if there is no dyspnoea. Mild tranquilizers may be given to enable patient sleep. Should there be dizziness patient should be protected from falls and injury.
3.Diet: Restrict sodium intake to about 4grams daily. Give light, easily digestible diet. Fatty food and excessive carbohydrate that can increase weight and cholesterol should be avoided. Coffee, tea, kola nuts, alcohol should be avoided or minimized.
4.Physical care: Assist patient with physical care if patient is very weak. Where there is blurred vision patient may require the use of medicated eye glasses. If there is bleeding from the nose (epistaxis) apply ice pack to the bridge of the nose and back of the neck. When the ice pack cannot control bleeding the nose may be packed. The pack should however be removed within few days. Make sure patient does not lie on one side of his body for several days in bed. If he is to be admitted for days, his position should be changed every 2-4 hours to prevent pressure sore from developing.
5.Elimination: Constipation should be avoided because it makes the patient strain at defecation thereby further elevating the blood pressure. Food rich in fibre should be given to prevent constipation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Share this
