Homeostatic Imbalance in Hypertension

Homeostatic Imbalances in Hypertension: 63-YO Male Diagnosed with Hypertension

Brigitte L. Pedersen-Thomas

ITT Technical Institute – Breckenridge School of Nursing: AP2530

Due: September 24, 2014

Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood pressure and involves the Cardiovascular System. Blood pressure is a measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body. Hypertension is caused by increases in cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, or both. There are three stages of Hypertension – Prehypertension, Hypertension Stage 1, & Hypertension Stage 2 and is classified as either primary (essential) (HBP with no underlying medical cause) or secondary (caused by other conditions that affect the kidneys, heart, arteries, or endocrine system).  The body protects itself against extremes by self-regulating systems known as feedback systems. Negative feedback is the primary means for keeping the body in Homeostasis. The negative feedback system is when the information decreases the system’s output to bring the system back to its setpoint. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways henceforth; the consequences of uncontrolled Hypertension can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, angina and other health problems. Lifestyle modifications are essential and include but not limited to diet restrictions/limitations/reductions (ie, sodium), exercise, weight loss (if applicable), stress management, smoking cessation (if applicable), limit alcohol intake and take prescribed medication (dependent on BP levels).

        Good Morning Mr. Patient, how are you doing this morning? My name is Brigitte Pedersen and I am a Registered Nurse here at ABC Family Healthcare. I work closely with your physician, Dr. Cureall and he has asked me to come in and talk to you about your diagnosis of Hypertension. I don’t want you to worry because this is something that we can get under control and maintain – it is my role to educate you and get you back on the path to a healthy future. I will explain to you exactly what Hypertension is and why it matters, factors that likely caused it, what can happen if you don’t keep it under control by making sure you know your risks for high blood pressure, and lifestyle modifications you can make to become ‘heart healthy’.

Diagnosis

Alright Mr. Patient, have a seat and I am going to make sure you understand everything that is going on with your body in respect to your diagnosis of Hypertension.

What is Hypertension?

        Everyone has and needs blood pressure to move your blood throughout your body, so every part of your body can get the oxygen it needs. For some people, as in your situation Mr. Patient, blood pressure can get too high which in turn can cause health problems; some very serious. A healthy blood pressure is under 120/80 mm Hg and therefore, anything higher than this reading results in one of the three level of hypertension but what differentiates someone with hypertension is the blood pressure reading. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. When a person's systolic blood pressure is consistently 140mmHg or greater, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is consistently 90mmHg or greater, they are considered to have hypertension.