Resistant Hypertension

Every Monday, 8:00 – 9:00 AM

Hypertension is recognized as a major contributing factor to heart disease, as well as declining kidney function. Incidence rates of hypertension are as high as 50% among Chicago’s South Side health center adult patient populations. Untreated, hypertension can lead to fatal strokes, heart attacks, or heart failure; however, even hard to control, or resistant, hypertension can be managed effectively in the primary care setting. This ECHO series is designed to increase that capacity in primary care providers so that they may better control their patients’ hypertension, especially in vulnerable populations. The ECHO-Chicago Resistant Hypertension curriculum addresses state of the art care, including proper techniques for obtaining accurate BP readings, medication management, important dietary changes, and patient adherence to treatment. The newest hypertension guidelines are also discussed. Sessions are designed to train and support community providers in managing the challenges of resistant hypertension and are especially suitable for primary care providers in Family and Internal medicine specialties.

Topics for Case-Based Learning and Discussion Include:

• Medication adherence
• Resistant Hypertension—definition and management
• Application of new hypertension guidelines
• Combination therapy: When and how to use initial combination agents
• Role of kidney disease as a cause of secondary hypertension
• What to do when serum creatinine rises when antihypertensive therapy is started
• Treatment of hypertension in the elderly
• Hypertension in African Americans: Approaches to therapy
• Pseudopheochromocytoma
• Treatment approaches to hypertension in those requiring pain medications