Essay on Hypertension: Blood Pressure and Larry

Submitted By carlaeckelbarger
Words: 3270
Pages: 14
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Most people are unaware of how a chronic medical condition can affect their life. This paper will provide Larry, who is a 45 year old male, with a new diagnosis of hypertension; he will need valuable information, and tools to assist him in managing his medical condition better. Providing information regarding the disease process enables the patient to be informed about how their medical condition can progress and affect their quality of life. Age and development can affect a person’s understanding and how they cope with medical conditions. An important aspect of managing any medical condition is developing an educational plan for the patient. The educational plan needs to incorporate preventative care and health maintenance, information on how the disease can affect their lives and ways to manage the disease. Education needs to be tailored to the needs of each individual and be presented in a way that provides the optimal benefit to that individual. Education plans frequent evaluation, any missing information or data needs to be provided.
Hypertension is one of many diseases, which have very few signs and symptoms. Hypertension often goes undiagnosed causing damage a patients organs. The vast majority of patients are identified as having hypertension when they, are seeing their doctor for routine care. In order for a patient to receive the diagnosis of hyper tension they need to have a blood pressure reading greater than 140/90. According to, our text Diseases and Disorders A Nurses Therapeutic Manual, a normal blood pressure has a systolic pressure less than 120 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure of less than 80 mm Hg. If a person’s systolic pressure is between 120 and 139 mm Hg or their diastolic pressure between 80 and 89 mm Hg the person is pre-hypertensive. Even though there are no visible signs and symptoms, they can continue to cause harm to other organs in their body. When a person’s systolic pressure is between 140 and 159 mm Hg or their diastolic pressure is between 90 and 99 mm HG the person is in Stage one hypertension. When a person’s systolic pressure is greater than 160 mm Hg the diastolic pressure greater than 100 mm Hg the person is in Stage two. The patient may have noticed increased incidence of headaches, nose bleeds, dizziness, blurred vision, or feelings of light headedness. Many patients are hesitant to take medications or make modifications to their lives because they do not feel sick at this time.
Larry needs education regarding the importance and benefits of preventive care. By getting the proper immunizations and vaccinations the possibility of contracting certain diseases can decrease. His last Tetanus booster was 12 years ago, according to the website, Web Md. “… you need routine booster shots of the Td vaccine every 10 years to adequately protect you against tetanus and diphtheria.” Receiving a tetanus booster provides protection from bacteria, which may enter the body from a wound (such as stepping on a rusty nail, or getting a cut). Diphtheria is a contagious disease which results in nerve and heart damage. By getting the immunization routinely the patient can save a trip to the emergency room when a cut occurs, by not going to the emergency Larry can save money and time. Larry has not received the hepatitis vaccination, either. By not obtaining these vaccinations, he is at risk for contracting hepatitis A or/and Hepatitis B. Both of these result in swelling and inflammation of the liver, which can lead eventually to liver failure, liver cancer or death. He can pass both hepatitis A and B to his family and possibly his friends. It is easier to prevent the disease than try to and manage or cure it once the patient has one.
His last physical examination was six years ago, and there is no documentation of preventive health screening. According to, an article published by Medline Plus, “Cholesterol screening and heart disease prevention: Men over age 34 should be checked every 5 years.”
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