Definition: arterial pressure is product of cardiac output and vascular constriction.

140/>90 systolic/diastolic diastolic - between beats

The older you are: the higher the systolic, the lower the diastolic (arteries fail to recoil)

Epidemiology: 30-45% in UK. Only 10% have secondary HTN. (ie due to cause: drugs, drug ill-use, hyperaldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome)

Damage to organs:

• blood vessels - aneurysms
• chronic kidney disease - haematuria. CKD nephrons get large overtime to overcompensate
• cardiac failure - pulmonary oedema, MI
• stroke - haemorrhage
• retinal damage

20% cardiac output goes to kidneys to get filtered.

JGA (juxtaglomerular apparatus cells) monitor Na+ concentration.

<55y/o

55y/o or ethnic pt

First line of tx:

ACE inhibitor

Ca Channel blocker

Second line of tx:

ACE & Ca Channel or ACE & Diuretic

Third line of tx:

ACE & Ca Channel & Diuretic (check compliance first)