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• Actions of angiotensin II contributing to high blood pressure


  • Increased aldosterone production
  • Vasoconstrictor
  • Release of ADH
  • Stimulates thirst
• Pathophysiological consequences of undiagnosed hypertension


  • Stroke
  • Aortic aneurysm
  • Kidney failure
  • Myocardial infarction
• Mechanism of action of lisinopril


  Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor and it blocks the production of angiotensin II
• One common side-effect of lisinopril that patients often describe as being troublesome is cough
• Cautions or contra-indications for lisinopril


  • Less effective in people from African Caribbean background
• How a calcium channel blocker can reduce blood pressure

  Calcium channel blockers reduce blood pressure by blocking calcium channels in the blood vessels, therefore calcium can't enter the cell so cytosolic calcium doesn't increase
• Calcium channel blockers are given to people from an African Caribbean background and patients over 55 year old patients as first line treatment for hypertension
• Beta-blockers may be used to treat hypertension in younger patients
• Mechanisms of how a beta-blocker could lower blood pressure


  • Blocks beta 1 receptor in the myocardial muscle which causes a weaker contraction and decreased blood pressure
  • Causes decreased heart rate as beta blockers also act on the SA nodal cells