ABC of Hypertension

High blood pressure is now recognised as the major cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. It is the commonest chronic medical problem encountered in primary care, yet it is often diagnosed incorrectly and ineffectively treated. The ABC of Hypertension is a long established, practical guide to the investigation, treatment and management of hypertensive patients. This new sixth edition provides practical guidance on measurement of blood pressure and the investigation and management of hypertensive patients. It explains new developments in the automated measurement of blood pressure, with emphasis on out–of–office blood pressure measurement, and it stresses the importance of 24 hour blood pressure monitoring.  Fully up to date with current British Hypertension Society (BHS) and NICE guidelines, it also includes improved coverage on the assessment and treatment of elderly patients and explains of the implications of recent trials.  From a respected, expert author team, ABC of Hypertension is a valuable resource for general practitioners, family physicians, junior doctors, medical and nursing students, practice nurses and primary healthcare professionals. It is also an important reference for all primary care health professionals involved in screening large numbers of patients for hypertension.

Preface vi 1 The prevalence and causes of hypertension 1 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 2 Hypertension and vascular risk 10 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 3 Pathophysiology of hypertension 20 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 4 Blood pressure measurement, 27 Eoin O’Brien Part 1: Factors influencing all techniques of blood pressure measurement, 27 Part 2: Conventional blood pressure measurement, 33 Part 3: Ambulatory blood pressure measurement, 38 Part 4: Self–blood pressure measurement, 43 5 Screening and management in primary care, 47 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 6 Clinical assessment of patients with hypertension, 53 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 7 Investigation in patients with hypertension, 57 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 8 Non–pharmacological treatment of hypertension, 63 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 9 The pharmacological treatment of hypertension and endovascular renal sympathetic denervation, 68 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 10 Hypertension in patients with cardiovascular disease, 81 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 11 Special groups; diabetes mellitus, renal disease, renal artery stenosis and connective tissue diseases, 87 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 12 Ethnicity, age and hypertension, 93 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers 13 Hypertension, pregnancy and the oral contraceptives, 98 Gregory Y H Lip, D Gareth Beevers Index, 108