| This is a service
we do for our patients free of charge. This free service to you
cost our office about $1,200 in salary and lost production a month to
perform*. Why do we do this? Because we care about you and
your health.
Hypertension or high blood
pressure is a consistent reading of 120/80 or higher. Normal
blood pressure is approximately 120/80. If you
have a reading above 120/80 we will suggest you consult with your
physician about your blood pressure. One
quarter of the US population has high blood pressure yet show no obvious
symptoms. This is why it is called the "silent
killer". It is of world-wide epidemic proportions. The
ADA recommends that any patient with a reading of 180/110 is the cutoff
point for offering urgent treatment without medial consultation.
Blood Pressure
Classification |
SBP (mm HG) |
DBP (mm Hg) |
|
| Normal |
<120 |
and <80 |
Regular care;
|
| Prehypertension |
120-139 |
or 80-89 |
Advise
pt of BP status; recommend lifestyle
modifications |
| Stage 1 Hypertension |
140-159 |
or 92-99 |
Regular care; recommend
physician consult; stress reduction protocol |
| Stage 2 Hypertension |
> 160 |
or>100 |
Re-check BP in 5 min.s; non-invasive
care only; definitive emergency care only if less than 180/110;
refer to physician for immediate followup; stress reduction
protocol |
| Hypertensive Crisis |
220+ |
120+ |
Re-check BP in 5 min.s; no
dental therapy, routine or emergency, until elevated BP is
corrected; manage emergency w/ antibiotics and/or analgesics;
hospitalization and immediate BP reduction when signs & dx of
organ damage are present; otherwise refer to physician for
immediate followup # |
Hypertension alone is
the most important risk factor for heart failure. Hypertension is
the leading cause of strokes,
kidney failure and blindness. Having high blood pressure
increases stroke risk four to six times!
One in three people
have hypertension and do not know it. Dentist are a great source
to screen for this common and dangerous condition.
Hypertension applies stress
on blood vessel walls which decreases the diameter of the blood
vessels while keeping the volume of blood flow constant which increases
the velocity of blood traveling down the vessels which increases
pressure on the vessels walls leading to strokes from blood clots
or a hemorrhage.
 | The risk of developing cardiovascular disease
doubles for every increment of 20 mm Hg of systolic blood pressure
or 10 mm Hg of diastolic blood pressure |
| Systolic blood pressure higher than 140 Hg in
people older than 50 years of age is more important risk factor than
diastolic pressure |
| People with normal blood pressure at age 55-65
years have an 80-90% risk of developing hypertension by age 80-85. |
| If your blood pressure is usually 145/95,
most life insurance companies double your premium because your life span
would likely be shorter than that of someone with normal blood pressure.
If your systolic blood pressure is over 200, there is a much higher risk
that you will have a stroke, which can lead to impaired mental or
physical function, or even cause death |
| Cases probably should not
be started if you have blood pressure values above 200 mm Hg
systolic or 100 mm Hg diastolic. Many patients will have an increase
in blood pressure of 10% during or immediately after administration
of local anesthesia. |
Hypertension has three primary
risk factors: tobacco use,
poor nutrition, and lack of exercise,
all of which are reversible and correctable.
If you have hypertension:
| The best time to come for dental
treatment if you have high blood pressure is in the afternoon. Thus
afternoon appointment are recommended over mornings for this reason. |
| Your blood pressure will be taken at each visit.
The best arm to use the monitor on is on the
left arm. |
| Stress reduction protocol will be followed which
includes:
 | shorter appointments |
| good night's sleep before the appointment |
| avoiding caffeine before the appointment |
| eating a regular meal before the appointment
|
| ample time allowed to get to your appointment |
| premed as needed |
| checked to make sure daily hypertensive
medications were taken |
| raising dental chair slowly |
| allowed to sit upright in dental chair for
several minutes after procedure to avoid hypotension |
|
| Anxiety and stress associated
with dental treatment typically causes a rise in blood pressure.
Using of a sedative the night before treatment may help. |
| Also using nitrous
oxide 10 minutes before treatment may reduce blood pressure to
acceptable levels, allowing initiation of local anesthesia. |
The most effective strategy
that can aid to control hypertension and it's substantial decline is the
ability to detect, evaluate and treat people early with accurate
blood pressure measurements. So we offer this
service to help you monitor your health because we value you.
Up To
Top
Update:
Hypertension
Hypertension has few discernable symptoms before events like strokes or
heart attacks. Most individuals are often unaware of the symptoms
associated with hypertension and tend to be unaware of theircondition
if they do not receive regular blood pressure screenings.
Blood pressure checks are easy to incorporate into routine hygiene
examinations. Through hypertension specific organs are targeted
for damage, such as heart, brain, kidneys, peripheral arteries and the
eyes
Anti-hypertension therapy typically involves referral, medication,
lifestyle changes and monitoring. Treatment is effective.
Hormone changes in women, especially during pregnancy and while
taking birth control can increase blood pressure and the risk of
hypertension.
Hypertension is also becoming a problem with the increasingprevalence
of overweight children.
So what is normal? A systolic pressure of less than 120 and a diastolic
pressure of less than 80. The research has
shown that the
systolic blood pressure number is the better indicator of decreased
risk.
Berger EK Contemporary Oral Hygiene
2004;4(6)10-11
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Hypertension affects one in four Americans. A new
report suggests that eating
3 - 4 servings of dairy each day as part of a healthy diet
may help to reduce the risk of nine common diseases and conditions
including hypertension and obesity, resulting in healthcare cost
savings of as much as $26 billion in the first year. ADA 2/04
Check the Numbers
 |
| Even if you think you have your blood
pressure under control, you may want to revisit the
numbers.
The U.S. government has recently revised
its definition of high blood pressure to include numbers
previously considered ideal. Now, any reading of 120/80 mm
Hg or higher is considered something to watch or to treat.
Have your blood pressure checked soon to see how it stacks
up against the new numbers.
RealAge Benefit: Keeping
your blood pressure at 115/76 mm Hg can make your RealAge
as much as 12 years younger.
|
|
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Sweet taste boots adults' pain tolerance EXCEPT in
those with high blood pressure!
According to research presented at the American
Psychosomatic Society's, sweet-tasting solutions seem to be analgesic in
adults, especially adults with lower than average blood pressure. However
the findings of this study also discovered that people with high
blood pressure — or even just a tendency toward higher blood pressure
— may not be buffered from pain by the sweet taste because they have a
reduced response to natural painkillers. Consistent with the notion that
people with high blood pressure have different functioning of (natural
painkillers), individuals with higher blood pressure are less sensitive
to this effect
ADA Today's News; Reuters March 2002.
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Most Adult Diabetics In United States Have
Hypertension
Nearly three-quarters of adult diabetics in the United States have
hypertension. Regardless of age, sex, race or ethnic origin, all may
benefit from efforts to prevent it.
Potassium
Content of Foods:
| HIGH potassium
more than 225 milligrams
All meats, poultry and fish
are high in potassium.
Apricots (fresh more so than canned)
Avocado 1/4 small
Banana 1 small
Cantaloupe 1/4 small
Pumpkin 1/2 cup
Dates 5
Peach 1
Nuts all kinds 1/2 cup
Grapefruit
Honeydew 1/8
Mango 1 small
Papaya 1 medium
Artichoke 1 medium
Beet greens 1/4 cup
Winter squash 1/2 cup
Bouillon 1 cup
Dried fruit 1/4 cup
Chili 1/2 cup
Lasagna 1 cup
Kiwi 1
Lima beans 1/2 cup
Corn on cob 1 ear
Milk 1 cup
Oranges and orange juice |
Potatoes 1/2 cup
Prunes 1/4 cup
Spinach 1/2 cup
Tomatoes products 2 tbsp
Vegetable juice 1/2 cup
Winter squash 1/2 cup
Molasses 1 tbsp
Sweet Potatoes or Yam 1 cup
Pizza 2 slices
Salt substitute 1/4 tsp
Soya milk 1 cup
Spaghetti 1 cup
Yogurt 6 oz
Apricots 3 medium
V8 juice
MODERATE
(125 - 225 mg per serving 1/2 cup)
Apple juice
Asparagus
Beets
Blackberries
Broccoli
Carrots
Cherries
Corn
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Green peas
Loose-leaf lettuce
Mushrooms, fresh
Onions
Peach
Pears
Pineapple
Raisins
Raspberries
Strawberries
Summer squash, including zucchini
Tangerines
Watermelon |
|
|
Resource:
#General Dentistry,
Nov.-Dec. 2004; Vol. 52, no. 6; pages 544-552.
New National Guidelines on Hypertension,
Dr. Herman, Konzelman, Prisant, JADA, Vol 135, og576-586 May 2004
Dentistry
Today, Dental Hygiene and Hypertension, pg 46, September 2002
Dentistry Today, Monitoring Blood Pressure
in the Dental Office, Dr. Perkins September 2001 pg 148-151.
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February 06, 2008
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