investigations

Investigations for hypertension
Electrocardiogram
• In patients with hypertension, you may see:-
- Left ventricular hypertrophy
- Strain pattern in the lateral chest leads
- Signs of ischaemia
Electrocardiography
• Transducer placed near ribs- high frequency – Converts sound waves into impulses- Impulses converted to moving pictures of heart.
• Structures of the heart can be seen.( Heart valves, chambers and the contractility of the wall)
• Can be used to monitor heart failure, pericarditis, heart murmurs and hypertension
Urinalysis
• To check whether kidneys are functioning properly.
• Dipstick test- to detect protein and haemoglobin of red blood cells in urine
Microscopic test- To detect blood cells or cells from the kidney itself as a result kidney damage
Fasting blood lipids
• For more accurate results, patients should fast for bout 12 hours
Results in a healthy individual:-
- Total lipid level- 75-169 mg/dL for those age 20 and younger
- 100-199 mg/dL for those over age 21
- High density lipoprotein- Greater than 45 mg/dl for men and greater than 55 mg/dl for women
- Low density lipoprotein
- - Less than or equal to 70 mg/dL for those with heart or blood vessel disease and for other patients at very high risk of heart disease
- Less than or equal to 100 mg/dL for high risk patients (for example: some patients who have diabetes or multiple heart disease risk factors)
- Less than 130 mg/dL for individuals who are at low risk for coronary artery disease
Urea creatinine and electrolytes
• Typically, tests for electrolytes measure levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate in the body. To help the muscles, heart, and other organs work properly.
• Creatinine- To check whether the kidney filtration is taking place properly

Lung X-ray
• In patients with hypertension, you may see:-
- Large heart
- Pulmonary congestion if heart failure had developed
- Rib notching in co-arctation of aorta