Episode 12: Getting Hyper Tense about Monitoring

In our 12th episode, we divide and conquer the remaining points around hypertension. In section A, we talk about monitoring blood pressure: frequency, reliability and home monitoring are all discussed. In section B, we talk about the potential side-effects of different hypertension therapies and the need to monitor for biochemical-metabolic effects. In the end, Mike is hyper and James is tense but both need therapy.

Show Notes

1) Effect of home blood pressure monitoring on blood pressure

BMJ 2004;329:145

2) Hypokalemia and metabolic effects of thiazides are dose related

BMJ 1990;300:975

3) Cardioselective beta-blockers in mild-moderate asthma and COPD Cardioselective beta-blockers in asthma

Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:715-725

Cardioselective beta-blockers in COPD

Cochrane library

Other resources

• Beta-Blockers in Asthma (Ann-Intern-Med, 2003)
• Beta-Blockers in COPD (cochrane, 2005)
• Meta-analysis of home BP monitoring (BMJ, 2004)