Lecture: Drugs Affecting Blood Pressure

Understand the risk factors that predispose towards the development of hypertension
Appreciate the severe cardiovascular consequences that can ensue if hypertension remains untreated
Describe the major classes of drugs used to treat hypertension, including their actions, mechanisms and sites of action, clinical effectiveness and side effects
Make use of the NICE algorithm for treating hypertension based on age and ethnicity

What is the scale of the problem? - attributable deaths to hypertension
How do you identify a patient with hypertension?
What is the definition for hypertension?
What are some of the main causes of hypertension?
What are the effects of chronic hypertension?
What are the clinical benefits of reducing blood pressure?
What are the equations/factors that dictate blood pressure and cardiac output?
What are the different pathways that can be affected to reduce blood pressure and the drug classes associated?
B-adrenoceptor Blockers
A-adrenoceptor Blockers
ACE Inhibitors
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
Diuretics
Calcium Channel blockers