Continued medical education : hypertension and systolic dysfunction (day case)

Abstract

Mrs Grech, a 61 year lady woman was accompanied to my clinic by her daughter due to progressive dyspnoea. She had enjoyed good health until3 months previously when she started to complain from exertional dyspnoea with minimal activity. Lately this complaint was accompanied by an increase in her weight and some swelling of her feet. Since the previous week her dyspnoea worsened and she noted orthopnea and some chest discomfort. She had been an ex-smoker since 7 years and did not abuse alcohol. She had also been on antihypertensive treatment for over 10 years but with poor blood pressure control. She was taking atenololl OOmg and hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg daily.