◩ Laboratory Investigations of hypertension:

1. Routine examination:
–– Urine R/M/E—to see protein, RBC cast, pus cell.
–– Blood urea, creatinine.
–– Serum electrolytes.
–– Fasting blood sugar.
–– Serum lipid profile (total serum cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, HDL, triglyceride).
–– X-ray chest PA view.
–– ECG.
–– Echocardiogram.
2. Other investigations according to suspicion
of cause:
–– If renal cause: ultrasonogram of kidney, IVU, CT scan of renal system, isotope
renogram.
–– Cushing’s syndrome: serum cortisol level, 24-hour urinary cortisol, ACTH,
dexamethasone
suppression test, etc.
–– Phaeochromocytoma: 24 hours urinary VMA, serum catecholamines, USG,
CT/MRI of
suprarenal gland.
–– Conn’s syndrome: plasma aldosterone and renin.
–– Coarctation of aorta: CT scan, aortogram.

◩ COMMON SYMPTOMS OF CVS:

• Chest pain (usually central, retrosternal).
• Palpitation.
• Breathlessness or dyspnoea.
• Others—leg swelling (in CCF), syncopal attack (in aortic stenosis, HOCM,
arrhythmia,
hypotension), cough (in pulmonary oedema), haemoptysis (in pulmonary
hypertension).