A patient has had blood pressures of 150/95 mm Hg and 148/90 mm Hg on two separate office visits. The patient reports a blood pressure of 145/92 mm Hg taken in an ambulatory setting. The patient's diagnostic tests are all normal. The nurse will expect this patient's provider to order:

Question

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This patient has primary,or essential,hypertension as evidenced by systolic pressure greater than 140 and diastolic pressure greater than 90,along with normal tests ruling out another primary cause. Thiazide diuretics are first-line drugs for hypertension. Beta blockers are effective but are most often used to counter reflex tachycardia associated with reduced blood pressure caused by therapeutic agents. Loop diuretics cause greater diuresis than is usually needed and so are not first-line drugs. This patient should be counseled on lifestyle changes as an adjunct to drug therapy but should also begin drug therapy because hypertension already exists.

A Patient Has Had Blood Pressures of 150/95 Mm Hg