Example Scenario
You see a 72 year-old woman for a routine checkup. She is generally healthy, except for some mild osteoarthritis for which she takes acetaminophen. Her blood pressure is 190/84. Your office nurse teaches her to take her own blood pressure. Her blood pressure readings correlate well with those of your nurse.
She returns two weeks later with these readings.
- systolic range: 160 to 210 mmHg
- diastolic range: 72 to 96 mmHg
- average blood pressure is 193/88 mmHg.
You confirm that she is not taking any anti-inflammatory agents, decongestants or other sympathomimetic drugs.