Essential Hypertension: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

Home Essential Hypertension: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

Essential Hypertension: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

A 38-year-old male with no past medical history presents to the clinic for a routine annual physical. His blood pressure reads 134/82. He keeps a blood pressure log for 2 weeks at home and brings it back to the clinic in a few weeks. Almost all of the readings show a systolic blood pressure between 130-139 and diastolic blood pressure between 80-89. Which of the following classification does this patient meet?

A. Normal blood pressure
B. Elevated blood pressure
C. Stage I hypertension
D. Stage II hypertension
E. Hypertensive crisis

Answer and topic summary

The answer is C. Stage I hypertension

Essential hypertension (aka there’s no identifiable cause) is the main cause of hypertension. The stages of hypertension are as follows:

Normal: SBP < 120, DBP < 80

Elevated: SBP 120-129, DBP < 80

Stage 1 Hypertension: SBP 130-139, DBP 80-89

Stage 2 Hypertension: SBP >140, DBP > 90

Complications of hypertension include coronary artery disease, CHF, stroke, renal failure, and retinopathy. The diagnosis should NEVER be made off of just one BP reading. Ideally, the diagnosis should be made based on 2 readings over 4 or more weeks apart. Treatment includes weight loss, exercise, reduction in salt intake, and medications (diuretics, BBs, ACEIs, CCBs, etc). Most patients will need more than 1 drug to obtain an ideal blood pressure.

View blueprint lesson

Smarty PANCE Content Blueprint Review:

Covered under ⇒ ⇒ ⇒

Also covered as part of the Family Medicine EOR and Internal Medicine EOR topic lists

Sign up for the ENTIRE Blueprint Daily Email Series (500 days and counting! 😀)

Sign Up
X