A visual hypertension warning
After capturing an elevated BP reading, place the stethoscope tube over the patient's antecubital area and explain, "Your vein under the skin here is approximately this big, and the blood is moving too fast. When it moves through tiny tubes like the veins in your kidneys, eyes, and brain, the blood is moving even faster and could blow out the tubing." The conversation then moves to adherence to antihypertensive medication. — Valerie Armstrong, NP, Jacksonville, Fla. (158-12)
These are letters from practitioners around the country who want to share their clinical problems and successes, observations and pearls with their colleagues. We invite you to participate. If you have something you would like to share, send us an email.
