A 55-year-old patient comes to the clinic for a routine check-up. The patients BP is $159 / 100 \mathrm{~mm} \mathrm{Hg}$ and the physician diagnoses hypertension after referring to previous readings. The patient asks why it is important to treat hypertension. What would be the nurses best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hypertension, particularly elevated systolic BP, increases the risk of death, stroke, and heart failure in people older than 50 years. Hypertension is not a direct precursor to pulmonary emboli, and it does not put older adults at increased risk of type 1 diabetes or cancer. It is not the leading cause of death in people 55 years of age.

A 55-Year-Old Patient Comes to the Clinic for a Routine 159/100 mmHg159 / 100 \mathrm{~mm} \mathrm{Hg}159/100 mmHg

A 55-Year-Old Patient Comes to the Clinic for a Routine $159 / 100 \mathrm{~mm} \mathrm{Hg}$