Patient With Hypertension

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Hypertension is diagnosed by having a blood pressure of 140/90 or above, this may sound like a simple diagnosis but high blood pressure is a very serious condition. Hypertension is also known as the silent killer due to its limited and quiet symptoms yet deadly aftermath, it puts a person at high risk for heart disease and stroke by damaging your arteries. According to the CDC (2010), Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. and stroke is number four. Hypertension also damages your kidneys after time; this may lead to kidney failure and require kidney transplant or dialysis down the line. Hypertension is nothing to overlook, it is a severe issue that must be addressed. “Fortunately, with treatment and lifestyle changes, you can control your high blood pressure to reduce your risk of life-threatening complications” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014).
Patient History
The patient, R.A., was a 54 year old African American female with a history of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, GERD, and a hysterectomy. R.A was in the developmental stage of Middle Adulthood, Generativity vs. Stagnation. She was admitted to the ER with syncope. After speaking with the patient, she explained to me how she was feeling “wobbly” and having trouble walking, and also speaking. She explained to me that it was not normal for her to stammer when she spoke. The patient underwent an MRI scan on her brain in order to diagnose her problem. It was confirmed that the patient had what the doctor referred to as a pinstroke or a TIA (transient ischemic attack). The TIA was most likely due to her uncontrolled hypertension and obesity.
Nursing Diagnosis
The patient presented with ineffective self-health management related to her deficient knowledge and econom...

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...ere specific to her life. Individualizing the teaching helped keep the conversation interesting and closely related to the patient. The patient liked the handout because it was simple and easy to understand. She also enjoyed the fact that it gave her examples of foods to eat and cost free tips on reducing sodium. If I ever have a patient with hypertension again I will definitely use the Mayo Clinic’s DASH diet handout, it was easy to print and exceptionally patient friendly.

Works Cited

Ackley, B.J., & Ladwig, B.G. (2011). Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Moseby Elsevier.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, February 18). High blood pressure dangers: hypertension's effects on your body. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045868

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