Treating Hypertension: Doing What’s Best for Your Patient

Guest: Ivan E. Porter, II M.D. Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD) Nearly half of all adults in the United States have hypertension and it’s one of the most common reasons for an outpatient visit. Despite this, it’s estimated that only about a fourth of those diagnosed with hypertension are adequately controlled and about 20% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they even have it. Since uncontrolled hypertension can increase the risk of cerebral, cardiac and renal events, it’s important to make an accurate diagnosis and appropriately manage patients with the condition. The topic for this podcast is hypertension and we’ll discuss the changes in blood pressure with aging, the definition of hypertension, the proper technique of checking blood pressure and helpful management techniques with today’s guest, Ivan E. Porter, II M.D., a nephrologist and hypertension specialist at the Mayo Clinic. Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.