Hypertension: Nursing Process (ADPIE)

Jada Williams is a 55-year-old African American female who presents to her primary care office.

At her visit one month ago, her blood pressure was 150/94 mmHg.

She was diagnosed with stage 2 hypertension and started on blood pressure medication.

Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is a very common condition, impacting about 1 billion people around the world.

Blood pressure is classified in five categories: normal, elevated, stage 1, stage 2, and hypertensive crisis.

Blood pressure is considered normal when the systolic blood pressure is more than 90 mmHg but less than 120 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure is more than 60 mmHg but less than 80 mmHg.

When the systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 129 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure is less than 80 mmHg, the blood pressure is said to be elevated.

Stage 1 hypertension is between 130 and 139 mmHg on the systolic side, and between 80 and 89 mmHg on the diastolic side.

Stage 2 hypertension is defined as anything that is 140 mmHg or higher on the systolic side and 90 mmHg or higher on the diastolic side.

Hypertensive crisis is present when the systolic blood pressure is over 180 mmHg or the diastolic blood pressure is over 120 mmHg.

Now, there are also two types of hypertension, primary hypertension, which accounts for about 90 percent of hypertension cases, and secondary hypertension, which is much less common.

Primary hypertension has no known underlying cause, but it is thought to be due to the interaction of environmental and genetic factors affecting the cardiovascular and renal systems.