Question

A client is being seen at the clinic on a monthly basis for assessment of blood pressure. The client has been checking blood pressure at home as well and has reported a systolic pressure of 158 and a diastolic pressure of 64. What does the nurse suspect this client is experiencing?

a. Isolated systolic hypertension
b. Secondary hypertension
c. Primary hypertension
d. Hypertensive urgency

Answer 1

The client with a systolic pressure of 158 mm Hg and diastolic pressure of 64 mm Hg is likely experiencing isolated systolic hypertension.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client with a reported systolic pressure of 158 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of 64 mm Hg is likely experiencing isolated systolic hypertension. This is characterized by an elevated systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher with a normal diastolic pressure, which is less than 90 mm Hg. It is important to manage hypertension effectively, as chronically elevated blood pressure can lead to serious health issues such as heart attack, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, chronic kidney disease, or heart failure. Systolic hypertension increases the risk for these events because it reflects the arterial pressure resulting from the ejection of blood during ventricular contraction.

In this case, the client's reported systolic pressure of 158 mm Hg indicates elevated blood pressure, while the diastolic pressure of 64 mm Hg is within the normal range. Therefore, isolated systolic hypertension is the most likely diagnosis.