DENVER – Physician assistants (PAs) frequently suggest sufferers make lifestyle changes as the first line of remedy for hypertension, according to analysis provided on the American Academy of Physician Assistants 2019 meeting held May 18 to 22, 2019 in Denver, CO.
A group of investigators from the Physician Assistant Department at D’Youville College in Pennsylvania examined how frequently PAs recommend lifestyle modifications as a first-line remedy for patients with hypertension. They invited PAs to finish a 12-query survey that blanketed questions about demographics and hypertension treatment practices.
An overall seventy-five PAs had been included inside the evaluation (mean age, 35 y; seventy-seven % ladies). The 3 maximum commonplace specialties have been family medicinal drug (25%), inner medication (21%), and number one care (17%).
All members mentioned that they mentioned a way of life changes with their sufferers as a remedy choice for high blood pressure; almost half of the populace observed JNC 8 tips by recommending lifestyle adjustments as a primary-line remedy for high blood pressure.
The majority of the populace (79%) stated using lifestyle changes as a treatment earlier than a remedy for sufferers with systolic blood pressure among a hundred thirty and 139 mm Hg; 60% endorsed lifestyle adjustments for sufferers with systolic blood stress among one hundred forty and 149 mm Hg.
Some of the most commonplace reasons supplied for no longer recommending a way of life modifications as the first-line remedy covered blood stress being too excessive (85%), patient comorbidities (84%), badly affected person adherence (sixty-one %), and conditions in which sufferers asked remedy (27%).
The maximum common way of life changes recommended protected exercise (one hundred%), weight loss (ninety-five %), decreased sodium intake (88%), smoking cessation (eighty-four %), and reduced alcohol consumption (57%).
“Future research has to be achieved to extend the research in this topic because it’s miles essential to recognize the motives why a few practitioners aren’t following the JNC [8] hints …”.
For greater coverage of AAPA 2019, click right here.
Reference
Foster J, Michaels O, Walfriff M, Andreeff R, Edwards S. The use of way of life adjustments as first-line treatment for high blood pressure. Therefore, high blood pressure is generally defined as a blood pressure exceeding 140/90mmHg confirmed on multiple occasions. The top number (140) is called the SYSTOLIC PRESSURE, and it represents the pressure in the blood vessels (arteries) as the heart contracts and pumps blood into circulation. The bottom number (90) is called DIASTOLIC PRESSURE, and it represents the pressure in the blood vessels as the heart relaxes after contraction. Presented at: The American Academy of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting; May 18-22, 2019; Denver, CO. Poster 223.
These figures measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) reflect the highest and lowest pressures the heart and blood vessels are exposed to during circulation. The generally accepted normal value for blood pressure is 120/80mmHg. Above this value but less than 140/90mmHg is not considered hypertensive yet signals danger. It is therefore called High normal.
An elevation of the blood pressure (hypertension) increases the risk of developing Heart (Cardiac) diseases such as Heart Failure and Heart attack, Kidney diseases, Vascular diseases like atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of blood vessels), Eye damage, and Stroke (brain damage).
These complications called End organ damage arising as a result of long-standing (chronic) hypertension. But victims of hypertension are not aware, at an early stage, that they have the disease until these complications start appearing. This is because hypertension shows virtually no signs/symptoms at an early stage. For this reason, it is generally referred to as the ‘Silent Killer.’
The damage caused by hypertension increases in severity as the blood pressure increases. Based on this, hypertension can be classified as follows:
