PMID: 16626003Apr 22, 2006Paper

Specific aspects of hypertension control in the geriatric patient

MMW Fortschritte der Medizin
K Wagner

Abstract

Hypertensive patients older than 65 obtain greater benefit from antihypertensive therapy than do younger patients. The universally accepted values for the adjustment of blood pressure--140/90 mmHg--also apply in the case of the elderly. Hypertension control in this age group necessitates the taking into account of a number of peculiarities, including a tendency for these patients to develop postprandial hypotension, and to exhibit a diminishment in thirst, impairment of renal function and cognitive performance on the one hand, and an increase in salt sensitivity, comorbidity and a need for further medications. With regard to medicinal treatment, the basic rule is "start low, go slow", that is, a combination approach should be initiated at the lowest possible dose, which can then be gradually increased. Medical treatment is supplemented by age-group-related recommendations for general measures.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antihypertensive Agents: Mechanisms of Action

Antihypertensive drugs are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) which aims to prevent the complications of high blood pressure, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Discover the latest research on antihypertensive drugs and their mechanism of action here.

Related Papers

Peritoneal Dialysis International : Journal of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis
A F De Vecchi
The Practitioner
Ahmed H Abdelhafiz, Alan J Sinclair
Kidney International
Hugh E de WardenerGraham A MacGregor
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved