ABSTRACT
Emergency treatment for airways obstruction consequent on beta-blockade is with intravenous salbutamol or isoprenaline plus intravenous glucagon. In 30% of Glyncorrwg men and 44% of women management was complicated by major depression, psychosis, or serious behavioural disorder before their final illness. In all cases, the effect is reversible. Around 40% of Glyncorrwg hypertensive patients had chronic back or joint pain requiring frequent analgesics. Drinking less will usually reduce blood pressure, enough to avoid antihypertensive medication. In the Glyncorrwg series, 20% of the hypertensive men and 7% of the women had impaired renal function some time during their management, mostly during their last years. Peptic ulcers were found in 17% of Glyncorrwg hypertensive men and 5% of the women, either before or after detection of high blood pressure. In the UK at least, virtually all hypertensive emergencies will be admitted to hospital, and transferred to the care of hospital physicians.
