A Case Study Of Mr. Smith's Blood Pressure

Mr. Smith is a 58 year old African American male who is a married stock broker with five children. Three of his children are in college while the other two live at home. His normal workday consists of working 10 hour days with an hour drive time to and from his office. This means Mr. Smith has little time to dedicate to exercising. Mr. Smith often experiences headaches, fatigue, malaise, dizziness, vision changes, nausea, and dyspnea. Mr. Smith has been seen by his family physician on four different occasions with his blood pressure being in the range of 160/95 mm Hg. His heart rate was in the range of 80 to 90 beats per minute. Mr. Smith is a social drinker who consumes a few drinks on the weekends. He also smokes cigarettes up to two packs a week. Mr. Smith’s paternal grandfather died of a stroke at the age of 55 and both of his parents have a history of coronary artery disease. Mr. Smith refuses to take any blood pressure medication prescribed by his doctor because he believes it will interfere with his sex life.

Physical Examination:
Upon a current assessment, Mr. Smith is 5 feet and 8 inches tall weighing 245 lbs. Using a sphygmomanometer, Mr. Smith’s blood pressure was measured and recorded as being 165/90 mm Hg. His pulse rate and oxygen level were measured with a Pulse Oximeter. His …show more content…
Hypertension however can become chronic and fatal if left untreated. Overtime, hypertension will cause damage to the arteries and can cause them to narrow and become harden. Prolonged hypertension can also damage the heart by leading to coronary artery disease, heart failure, and producing an enlarged heart. Hypertension if left untreated may also cause severe damage to the brain leading to a stroke. As mentioned, hypertension is typically an easily manageable disease. A person must follow a healthy diet, participate in exercise regularly, and eliminate smoking and alcohol from their