Hypertension is common. However, despite being common, a lot of people aren’t fully aware of what it is, what damages it can cause, and why it happens. Affecting about 75 million Americans and killing about 41,000 Americans in 2014, it’s important to draft the right nursing care plan for hypertension. This will help ensure that patients’ individual needs are met and proper care is delivered.
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension is more commonly known as high blood pressure. It happens when the pressure of your blood that gets pumped through your arteries goes beyond the norm and what the body can handle.
Because there are usually no signs and symptoms, hypertension is popularly called as the “silent killer”. As patients don’t feel any dramatic change in how they feel, the constant pressure in the arteries usually ends up causing serious damage and health problems.
The list includes:
Heart attack
Metabolic syndrome
Heart failure
Aneurysm
Narrowing and weakening of the blood vessels in the kidneys
Narrowing and weakening of the blood vessels in the eyes
Issues with memory
Hypertension can happen in one of three adults worldwide. Middle aged men who are around 45 years of age frequently develop the condition. And it’s not just the adults who can have high blood pressure.
Children who are inactive, living an unhealthy lifestyle and those who are obese can be hypertensive, too.
Other risk factors for hypertension include:
Race
It’s been established that people with dark skin are more predisposed to getting high blood pressure than those who have pale skin.
Age
As you age, the walls of the arteries become less and less flexible. This prevents the walls of the arteries from opening effectively as they should. This greatly increases peripheral resistance.
Genetics
Having people in the family with hypertension increases your likelihood of developing it, too.
Diet
Having too much salt as well as having too little potassium in your daily diet can cause your blood pressure to be constantly elevated. Drinking too much alcohol counts, too.
Obesity
Weighing more means needing more oxygen to supply nutrients and oxygen to your tissues. This increase in demand also increases the pressure on the artery walls.
Types of Hypertension
There are two major types of hypertension.
Essential hypertension
Essential hypertension is when you have a high blood pressure reading in three or more visit to the doctor. This is after all possible causes of hypertension have been ruled out.
It’s typical for patients with essential hypertension to not experience any symptoms. However, there are patients who experience frequent headaches, dizziness and tiredness.
Secondary hypertension
Secondary hypertension refers to high blood pressure caused by other medical conditions, like diseases that affect the kidneys, endocrine system and heart. In some cases, one can also develop it during pregnancy.
Categories of Hypertension
Doctors usually categorize blood pressure into the following:
Normal blood pressure-120/80 mmHg and lower
Prehypertension- 120-139 / 80-89 mmHg
Stage 1 hypertension- 140-159 / 90-99 mmHg
Stage 2 hypertension- 160 / 100 mmHg or higher
Hypertension Nursing Care Plans
If you are caring for a hypertensive patient, you need to be thorough in planning your care. To help you get started, here are some of the essential nursing care plans for hypertension you need to prepare.
1. Activity intolerance
May be related to
-Imbalance between oxygen supply and demand
-Generalized weakness
-Sedentary lifestyle
Possibly evidenced by
-Exertional discomfort
-Abnormal blood pressure in response to activity
-Verbal report of fatigue
Desired outcomes
-Demonstrate a decrease in physiological signs of intolerance
-Participate in desired activity
-Use identified techniques to enhance activity tolerance
-Report an increase in physical activity
2. Knowledge, deficient regarding condition, treatment plan and lifestyle changes
May be related to
-Information misinterpretation
-Unfamiliarity with information resources
-Lack of knowledge
-Denial of diagnosis
Possibly evidenced by
-Verbalization of the problem
-Statements reflecting misconceptions
-Request for information
Desired outcomes
-Verbalize understanding of condition/disease process and treatment
-Initiate necessary lifestyle changes and participate in treatment regimen
-Exhibit increased interest/assume responsibility for own health
-Maintain blood pressure within normal range
3. Imbalanced nutrition: more than body requirements
May be related to
-Excessive intake in relationship to metabolic need
-Sedentary lifestyle
As evidenced by
-Weight 20% over ideal for height and frame
-Triceps skin fold greater than 15 mm in men and 25 mm in Women
-Weight 10% over ideal for height and frame
-Reports of dysfunctional eating patterns
Desired outcomes
-Demonstrate appropriate changes in lifestyle and behaviors, including eating patterns, food quantity/quality, and exercise Program
-Attain desirable body weight
Resources:
Doenges, M. E., Moorhouse, M. F., & Murr, A. C. (2010). Nurse’s pocket guide: Diagnoses, prioritized interventions, and rationales. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.
https://www.cdc.gov
Source: Nursebuff
Article owned by: ELEYELE school of nursing Oyo President 2016/2017
Published by : http://cityguru.com.ng
