Hypertension Blog

Instruct your patient in lifestyle modifications to manage his hypertension. Help him develop a diet plan to reduce his sodium intake and reduce his weight. Also, help him develop an exercise program.If the physician has prescribed an antihypertensive drug, teach your patient the name of the drug, its dosage, and its therapeutic and adverse effects. Explain the relationship between untreated hypertension and chronic complications, such as retinopathy.

Tell the patient that he’ll need regular ophthalmic examinations to detect and monitor retinal changes. Teach him the signs and symptoms of retinal detachment, such as dark irregular floaters, flashes of light, blurred vision, and a progressively enlarged dark area in his field of vision. Tell him to report any of these signs and symptoms to the physician immediately.

If your patient can’t care for himself because of vision limitations, he may require evaluation for home care assistance. If necessary, refer him to an occupational or physical therapist for suggestions on assistive devices and ways he can adapt his home to meet his needs.

Some More Facts

Focus on controlling your patient’s blood pressure. Administer an antihypertensive drug, as ordered. Also, instruct your patient in lifestyle modifications that can help control his hypertension, including limiting his sodium intake, losing weight, and exercising.

If your patient with hypertensive retinopathy is a pregnant woman, monitor her for signs and symptoms of eclampsia and worsening hypertension, which can cause retinal detachment from fluid leaking under the retina. Administer an antihypertensive drug, as ordered. When her hypertension is controlled, the retinal detachment may resolve.

Teach your patient about the various therapies that can work in conjunction with drug therapy and lifestyle modifications. If necessary, refer him to local community agencies for classes taught by qualified instructors. And advise him that patient participation in stress-reducing activities is an important adjunct to medical treatment.