Volume 8, Number 4, Oct-Nov-Dec 2011
POPULAR
TOPICBACK TO BASICSPutting the NICE guideline on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring into practice
CHANGING BEHAVIOURSupporting people with communication problems after stroke
Jane Lewis Communication problems are one of the most common after-effects of stroke, affecting
about one in three people. Losing the ability to speak or understand language aphasia
is frightening and frustrating. This article offers insights and practical tips to aid
communication. POPULAR
TOPICDIABETES MANAGEMENTNine processes of care for diabetes
Sandra Waddingham The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that all people
with diabetes should receive nine key tests at their annual diabetes review. These
important markers ensure diabetes is well controlled and are designed to prevent longterm
complications. The nine key tests are: weight, blood pressure, smoking status, HbA1c,
urinary albumin, serum creatinine, cholesterol, eye examinations and foot examinations. This
review discusses the importance of each marker of improved long-term care of patients. DISEASE FOCUSOne in five strokes warn you they are coming: treat transient ischaemic attacks as emergencies
Gillian Richardson Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is a
powerful warning sign of an impending,
and potentially disabling, stroke. It is
important to understand differences between
stroke and TIA, how the FAST test can help
you recognise the signs, and the use of the
ABCD2 score to assess the level of stroke risk.
Treating TIAs as emergencies is critically
important in preventing a full stroke so urgent
referral to your local TIA service is best
practice. EDITORIALEditorial
Jan Procter-King Its good to talk. Communicating effectively with our patients and their families is
a key part of our jobs as primary care nurses and we have a major new
communication job on our hands over the next few months. The new guideline
from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence makes ambulatory
monitoring part of routine practice for diagnosing high blood pressure (BP), so we
are going to need to explain to patients why we are sending them home with
monitors rather than just taking BP readings in the practice. EVIDENCE IN PRACTICEEvidence in practice
Providing need-to-know information and recommended actions resulting from new clinical research POPULAR
TOPICCONFERENCE UPDATE14th Primary Care Cardiovascular Society Annual General Meeting
28-30 September 2011 HAVE YOU HEARD?Have you heard?
POPULAR
TOPICMONITORINGAll change: using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to diagnose hypertension in primary care
Jan Procter-King, Joanne Hepworth Measuring blood pressure (BP) is one of the
commonest tests we carry out in primary
care generally taking several
measurements with a digital BP monitor on at
least two clinic visits before diagnosing
hypertension. Ambulatory blood pressure
monitoring (ABPM) has traditionally been
used in secondary care hypertension clinics,
and in some larger general practices. But
new guidelines from the National Institute
for Health and Clinical Excellence are
making ambulatory monitoring part of
routine practice for the diagnosis of
hypertension in primary care. What are the
new guidelines recommending and why the
change to ABPM? POPULAR
TOPICQUALITY MATTERSHeart failure: managing breathlessness and oedema
Wendy Churchouse Heart failure is characterised by fatigue, breathlessness and retention of fluid. The update of
the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence chronic heart failure guidelines has
simplified its management by using a stepped approach to investigation and treatment. In
this article, we focus on the practical aspects of managing the two main symptoms associated
with heart failure oedema and breathlessness. PATIENT INFORMATIONMeasuring your blood pressure: what you need to know about ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
|
