The nurse is teaching the community about blood pressure. What blood pressure finding by the nurse indicates that no changes in therapy are needed for a client with newly diagnosed hypertension?
A.
128/76 mm Hg
B.
128/92 mm Hg
C.
98/56 mm Hg
D.
142/78 mm Hg
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. 128/92 mm Hg.
For a client with newly diagnosed hypertension, the goal of therapy is to reduce blood pressure to levels that are considered normal or close to normal, according to guidelines. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for hypertension suggest that a target blood pressure for most adults with hypertension should be less than 130/80 mm Hg.
Here’s a breakdown of the blood pressure readings provided:
- A. 128/76 mm Hg: This reading falls within the normal range and indicates that the client’s blood pressure is well-controlled. For most people, this would be considered an acceptable or target blood pressure, suggesting that therapy might be working effectively.
- B. 128/92 mm Hg: This reading indicates elevated systolic blood pressure (128 mm Hg) and elevated diastolic blood pressure (92 mm Hg). According to hypertension guidelines, a reading of 128/92 mm Hg is still classified as Stage 1 hypertension. It suggests that while the systolic pressure has improved, the diastolic pressure remains high. Given this, the therapy might need to be adjusted to bring both systolic and diastolic pressures closer to the target goal of less than 130/80 mm Hg.
- C. 98/56 mm Hg: This reading indicates hypotension (low blood pressure). Such a reading would typically suggest that therapy might need to be adjusted to prevent the risk of low blood pressure symptoms.
- D. 142/78 mm Hg: This reading indicates Stage 2 hypertension, where the systolic blood pressure is elevated beyond the target range, and even though the diastolic pressure is within normal limits, the overall blood pressure is still considered high. This suggests that changes in therapy are likely needed to better control blood pressure.
In summary, a blood pressure reading of 128/92 mm Hg shows that while some progress has been made, the diastolic pressure remains elevated, indicating that the current therapy might not be sufficient, and adjustments might be necessary to reach the optimal target of less than 130/80 mm Hg.