Hypertension

[k8bailey]

Any thoughts would be appreciated...

27 yr old male, drinks in moderation, healthy-ish diet, ideal BMI, very physically active. He's trying to quit smoking - had a 20 a day habit. No other known medical conditions although he has family history of heart disease and high BP.

Had a routine check up with GP recently who discovered his BP was high. After a few more BP checks and some blood tests, he was started on a low dose of lisinopril (sp?).
Blood tests revealed a high white blood cell count.
He has been suffering headaches, tiredness, dizzy spells, says his face feels hot and head feels heavy.
BP today was "high end of 'normal'"

GP has ordered more blood tests, chest xray, ECG, mid stream urine and kidney scan.

GP says hypertension is probably secondary - What are they looking for?

[PringlesQueen]

Secondary hypertension is less common than the more frequent essential hypertension.
It can be caused by a multitude of diseases, but sometimes also can be caused by medication and nicotine even.
The GP is going though a process of elimination and requesting several test and investigations to see if they can shed any light on the possible cause.

[Mamyalynne]

A high white cell count may indicate a current or recent infection, the doctor is doing these tests as stated to get a clearer picture.

[trt]

What was his BP reading?

[Sqad]

The GP has got his/her fingers on the button here......a 27 year old male with the symptoms that you describe should suggest a high suspicion of secondary hypertension.......... suspicion of.

Possible causes:

1)Chronic kidney disease
2) Renal artery stenosis......narrow artery to the kidney.....uncommon
3) Phaeochromocytoma.....rare tumour, benign, of the adrenal gland.

The GP is "on the ball."

[k8bailey]

thanks everyone. He's useless at the gp, so hasn't asked what the readings have been. An infection is more than likely - he's a carpenter so constantly covered in cuts.

Is it possible that some or all of his symptoms are being caused by nicotine? When i said he's being trying to quit i mean that he started using patches, has painful reactions to every brand he's tried, so after a week or so he gets disheartened and smokes for a day or two, then either goes back to patches or goes 'cold turkey'. Could this be causing problems (other than mood swings!)?

[Sqad]

Extremely unlikely k8......extremely unlikely.

[anneasquith]

has he tried the electronic cigarettes ?

[k8bailey]

ok, thanks sqad.

Anne he says he doesn't like the idea of them or the inhaler, he likes patches because he says he can just put one on and pretty much forget about it, because he's so busy at work.