The Hypertension package is split into two main subject areas:

1. Information About Hypertension

The first main subject area looks at:

• What hypertension is
• How hypertension is diagnosed
• What the risk factors for and causes of hypertension are
• Complications which may arise due to a person having hypertension

The package covers stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3 (severe) hypertension; it briefly covers isolated systolic hypertension, the white-coat effect and masked hypertension.

2. Information About The Management Of Hypertension

The second main subject area looks at how hypertension is managed and covers:

• Advice on lifestyle modifications (including diet and exercise)
• Pharmacological treatment of hypertension (concentrating mainly on the treatment of hypertension in adults who do not have any co-morbidities, who do not have type 1 diabetes or who are not pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant)

The section on the pharmacological treatment of hypertension includes activities covering each of the classes of antihypertensive drug, including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers and thiazide-like diuretics. Each activity covering a class of antihypertensive drug includes some or all of the following information:

• An overview of the mode of action
• Examples of the class of antihypertensive
• What the main uses of the class of antihypertensive are
• Side effects
• Contra-indications and cautions
• Combining the class of antihypertensive with other classes of antihypertensive
• What else the class of antihypertensive can be used for

The package discusses which patients should receive pharmacological treatment. Where pharmacological treatment is required, the treatment discussed is stepped pharmacological treatment. Details of which class of antihypertensive drug are recommended at each step of the stepped treatment are taken from the United Kingdom’s NICE Guideline NG136: Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management.

The package covers the pharmacological treatment of stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension along with details of the target blood pressure to aim for. The package discusses what action should be taken for patients with stage 3 (severe) hypertension.

Multiple choice questions are interspersed throughout the package to test the user’s understanding of the material covered.

CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE

Hypertension consists of the following sections and activities:

Section 1: Introduction

• A Brief Overview Of Hypertension
• Diagnosing Hypertension
• Epidemiology Of Hypertension
• Risk Factors For And Causes Of Hypertension
• Complications Of Hypertension

MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION

Section 2: General Information And Strategies

• Overview Of The Management Of Hypertension
• Advice On Lifestyle Modifications
• Pharmacological Treatment Of Hypertension

Section 3: Classes Of Antihypertensive Drugs:
Classes Used At Steps 1-3 Of Treatment

Classes Affecting The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
• Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)

Other Classes

• Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)
• Thiazide-Like Diuretics (And Thiazide Diuretics)

 Section 4: Classes Of Antihypertensive Drugs:
Classes Used At Step 4 Of Treatment, Plus Other Classes

Step 4 Of Treatment (Resistant Hypertension)

• Alpha Blockers (Alpha-Adrenoceptor Antagonists)
• Beta Blockers (Beta-Adrenoceptor Antagonists)
• Other Diuretics (Including Spironolactone)

Other Classes Of Antihypertensive Drugs

• Centrally Acting Antihypertensive Drugs
• Other Vasodilators (Including Peripheral Vasodilators)
• Direct Renin Inhibitors