Hypertension

Persons with a systolic blood pressure (BP) of 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic BP of 80 to 89 mm Hg are now considered, according to the latest Joint National Committee (JNC) report on hypertension.

Progressive abdominal distention, nausea, constipation, and mild abdominal pain developed in an 82-year-old woman 5 days after she underwent surgical repair of a left hip fracture. Her medical history was significant for Parkinson disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

A 63-year-old woman presents withdiffuse hyperkeratosis of the solesand palms. She also has onycholysis-separation of the nail plate fromthe nail bed-and salmon-coloredplaques behind her ears. Biopsy ofone of the plaques confirms the suspecteddiagnosis of psoriasis.

A middle-aged man with"jock itch" that has failed torespond to antifungal creams.An older woman who has diffusehyperkeratosis of predominantlyweight-bearing surfaces.A young man with mildlypruritic, small, salmon pinkpapules and thick white scaleon his trunk and arms.

A 30-year-old man presents with scalingand erythema of the scalp that extendspast the anterior hairline. Thepatient has a family history of psoriasis.For the past 5 years, he has experiencedwintertime flares of the diseasethat affect his scalp and the extensorsurfaces of the extremities.

A 46-year-old man complains that his"jock itch" failed to respond to antifungalcreams. The patient has hadpsoriasis on his elbows and knees formany years.

A 72-year-old man presents with skinlesions and nail abnormalities. Erythematous,sharply defined, demarcatedpapules and rounded plaquescovered by silvery micaceous scaleare noted on the elbows, knees, andscalp. Involved areas appear to be bilaterallysymmetric. Localized psoriasisvulgaris is diagnosed.

4A:Small, slightly pruritic, salmonpink papules with thick white scalehave arisen over the past 5 days onthe trunk and arms of a 24-year-oldman. The patient has a history ofvery mild psoriasis vulgaris of the elbows,knees, and scalp; he deniesstreptococcal pharyngitis or other recentinfections. Guttate psoriasis isdiagnosed.

Focal, painless discoloration of theleft thumbnail (A) developed severalyears earlier in this 46-year-old man.Oral antifungal therapy had no effecton the lesion.

A 35-year-old man presents with extensiveplaques over much of thetrunk and extremities. This severeflare of psoriasis developed after astressful emotional experience.

A 60-year-old man with a long historyof psoriasis vulgaris required a systemiccorticosteroid for a severe exacerbationof asthma. Soon after theErythrodermic or Pustular Psoriasiscorticosteroid was discontinued, generalizederythema and scaling of theskin developed.

ABSTRACT: Indications for pulmonary function tests (PFTs) have widened substantially, ranging from screening smokers for early lung disease to determining the diagnosis and prognosis of pulmonary conditions. Current indications also include screening for drug-induced lung toxicity and preoperative screening for lung resection surgery. In the workup of respiratory symptoms, such as dyspnea, cough, and wheezing, PFTs can identify obstructive or restrictive patterns that may suggest a diagnosis such as asthma or interstitial lung disease. The ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity is very sensitive to the presence of airflow limitation, although bronchoprovocation testing may be needed to diagnose asthma, especially in patients with mild intermittent disease. Measurements of lung volumes and carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity (DLCO) provide crucial information in selected patients. For example, a reduced DLCO may be a sign of more advanced disease, such as emphysema or pulmonary hypertension.Since the first description of the spirometer by John Hutchinson in the late 1800s, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) have expanded to include spirometry; lung volumes; carbon monoxide-diffusing capacity (DLCO) (transfer factor); respiratory muscle performance; and exercise and functional testing, such as the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

A 67-year-old woman, who had hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, presented to the emergency department with mild abdominal discomfort and shortness of breath.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies, although suggestive, do not yet support the routine use of angiotensin II receptor blockers in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). For CHF patients in normal sinus rhythm, consider digoxin when a regimen of diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and β-blockers at optimal dosages does not relieve symptoms completely. Anticoagulation may be warranted in CHF patients with atrial fibrillation, previous embolic events, severely reduced systolic performance, or potential chamber clots. β-Blockers are indicated for patients with mild to severe CHF, unless there is a specific contraindication, and therapy should be initiated once euvolemia has been achieved. Avoid NSAIDs and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in patients with CHF because the prostaglandin-blocking properties of these agents may promote fluid retention.

For several days, a 60-year-old woman has had fever, myalgias,fatigue, poor appetite, and diminished oral intake. Shedenies cough, sputum production, and urinary symptoms.

A 75-year-old man was brought to the emergency department with fever, cough, and abdominal pain of 2 days’ duration. The pain was most severe in the epigastric and umbilical regions. The patient’s history included type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. He had smoked cigarettes for 40 years and recently lost 50 lb. The patient was tachypneic and diaphoretic.

A 40-year-old man presented to the emergency department with moderate to severe pain over the left lateral wrist. Earlier in the day, an iron rod had accidentally struck his wrist. The patient’s history included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and social anxiety disorder.

Three weeks after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)surgery, a 52-year-old woman complained of pain at thesternal scar. The patient had a history of diabetes and hypertension.She had smoked cigarettes for many years.

Three weeks after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)surgery, a 52-year-old woman complained of pain at thesternal scar. The patient had a history of diabetes and hypertension.She had smoked cigarettes for many years.

ABSTRACT: The interpretation of acid-base data can be greatly facilitated by applying 5 rules: (1) use the arterial pH to detect acidemia or alkalemia, (2) use the PCO2 and bicarbonate level to determine whether the underlying cause of acidemia or alkalemia is respiratory or metabolic, (3) calculate the anion gap to help identify the presence and nature of metabolic acidosis, (4) assess the degree of compensation, and (5) determine whether quantitative changes in the different groups of anions in the blood are in a 1:1 relationship. Rules 4 and 5 can help detect an occult acidosis or alkalosis. Use the osmol gap to identify the cause of an elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis. Non-anion gap metabolic acidosis results from bicarbonate wasting by either the gut or the kidney; measure urinary electrolytes and calculate the difference between positive and negative charges to determine which organ is responsible. Measure the urinary chloride concentration, blood pressure, and renin and aldosterone levels to detect the cause of metabolic alkalosis.

Many patients who present to the emergency department(ED) with severe headache request a narcotic to relieve thepain.

A 54-year-old man is admitted to the hospital because of worsening lower extremityswelling and knee and ankle pain and stiffness. These symptoms havemade walking very difficult for the past month.

Recently, the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee updated its 1993 recommendations for primary prevention of hypertension.

ABSTRACT: The most common errors in measuring blood pressure (BP) are using the incorrect cuff size, not having the patient relax for 5 minutes before the measurement, and deflating the cuff too quickly. Observer bias may compound technical errors. When patients use the proper procedure, home BP measurements may be more reproducible than office measurements. Brachial artery-based monitors are more accurate than finger- or wrist-based instruments. To ensure that patients measure their BP correctly, observe their technique with their own monitors. Counsel patients to measure their BP at predetermined times and to have their monitors validated periodically.

For the past several weeks, a 54-year-old man has had progressivelyworsening abdominal pain and general achiness.He has no nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever and no historyof trauma.