Hypertension

  • Describe and demonstrate the appropriate technique for blood pressure assessment.
  • Define how to diagnose hypertension in a family practice setting and identify the blood pressure targets for different populations based on comorbidities.
  • Describe the role of home blood pressure monitoring and 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure assessment in diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension.
  • Describe the effects of hypertension on end-organs and how to assess a patient for these.
  • Propose an initial diagnostic workup for a patient with a new diagnosis of high blood pressure to determine if there is a secondary cause for hypertension (versus essential hypertension).
  • Propose a treatment plan (incorporating non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic options) for a patient with a new diagnosis of high blood pressure.
  • Describe the various drug classes used to treat high blood pressure and their common side effects.

Core Resources

Hypertension Assessment 2019.pdf

Kalkov T, Bates S, Keegan DA. Hypertension Assessment. Canadian Family Medicine Clinical Card. 2019. Available at: https://sites.google.com/site/sharcfm/

2020 Hypertension Highlights

Hypertension Canada. 2020 Hypertension Highlights: A Practical Guide informed by the Hypertension Canada Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Hypertension

Supplemental Resources

End Organ Damage in Hypertension

Schmieder RE. End organ damage in hypertension. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2010;107(49):866-873. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2010.0866 [doi].