Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter - Hypertension Factor
Definition
Hypertension is high blood pressure. Hypertension was also sometimes called hyperpiesia or hyperpiesis up until the 1950's. Blood pressure is usually recorded as two figures - the top figure records the systolic pressure and the lower figure records the diastolic pressure (eg 130/80 records a systolic pressure of 130 and a diastolic pressure of 80).
Note: The definition means that hypertension cannot be diagnosed on the basis of one elevated blood pressure reading. There must be a number of high readings. When treatment is given, blood pressure readings may return to normal. However, a person with 'normal' blood pressure readings can still be suffering from hypertension if he or she is undergoing treatment for hypertension.
Establishing the onset of hypertension
This disease is significant and, if it has been detected, it will have been documented by a medical officer. However, doctors' notes and hospitals' records may have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained. If this is the case, the person's statement that hypertension was detected at a particular time should generally be accepted, However, if these records cannot be obtained, a reliable history of hypertension at a particular time will generally be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence. Obtain medical advice if it is unclear whether the claimed symptoms and treatment at that time can be attributed to hypertension rather than to some other condition.
Last reviewed for CCPS 16 July 2003.
Preliminary questions [14888]
317 the veteran has hypertension.
10940 the hypertension was present at the time of the clinical onset of atrial fibrillation.
10939 the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and operational service for the clinical onset of atrial fibrillation.
Clinical onset and operational service [10939]
334 the hypertension is causally related to operational service.