Question

Which of the following signs or symptoms would you see in a patient with primary hypertension that would indicate target organ damage? Select all that apply.

A. Changes in vision
B. Edema
C. Headaches
D. Weight lost
E. Bounding peripheral pulses

Answer 1

In patients with primary hypertension, signs of target organ damage might include symptoms like vision changes due to hypertensive retinopathy or cardiovascular complications from heart failure, rather than headaches or bounding peripheral pulses.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition that can lead to various forms of target organ damage if left unmanaged. While primary hypertension often presents without obvious symptoms, signs indicating target organ damage can arise. For instance, evidence of target organ damage could include chronic kidney disease indicated by protein or blood in urine, hypertensive retinopathy manifested as vision changes, and cardiovascular complications such as heart failure where one might perceive symptoms like shortness of breath or swelling of the extremities.

Although headaches may sometimes be associated with hypertension, they are not a reliable indicator of target organ damage. Similarly, bounding peripheral pulses can be seen in various conditions and are not specific to hypertension-induced target organ damage. They do not on their own typically signify damage to target organs.