II – For
a better understanding of blood pressure
Description
of the arteries and the blood pressure
2.1 - Working
of the blood circulation: the vessel and the heart
2.2 - Definition of
the blood pressure
Who
is concerned with high blood pressure?
2.3 - Epidemiological
data
2.4 - Influence of sex
2.5 - Race
The risk is raised by the existence of other
diseases
2.6 - Cholesterol
2.7 - Diabetes
2.8 - Tobacco
2.9 - The age
2.9 -
The age
Scientific
studies show that the blood pressure increases with age.
Of course, the age of
a patient cannot be altered but the doctor must consider the
age when evaluating the overall cardiovascular risk of his patient.
Thus, a
65 year-old patient who presents an arterial blood pressure of
170/95 millimetres of mercury has more risk than a 45 year-old
patient.
It is thus
very significant for the doctor and the hypertensive patient, to
be able to evaluate the total cardiovascular risk. Equations of
the risk have been established as shown in the table below.
| |
Blood
pressure (mmHg) |
| Other
risk factors and medical history |
Grade
1
(light High Blood Pressure)
SBP 140-159 ou
DBP 90-99 |
Grade
2
(moderate High Blood Pressure)
SBP 160-179 ou
DBP 100-109 |
Rank
3
(severe High Blood Pressure)
SBP >180 ou
DBP >110 |
| I.
not other risk factors |
Low
Risk |
middle
Risk |
High
Risk |
| II.
1-2 risk factors |
middle
Risk |
middle
Risk |
Very
high Risk |
| III.
3 risk factors or more or organ damage or diabetes |
|
High
Risk |
Very
high Risk |
| IV.
Other cardiovascular diseases |
Very
high Risk |
Very
high Risk |
Very
high Risk |
| File
last modified on : 28 sep 2003 |
|
|
