Normal and Abnormal Blood Pressure
(Physiology, Pathophysiology & Treatment)

Published by

Richard E. Klabunde, 2013

Amazon Kindle Book
ASIN: B00F0XDT1Y

This textbook integrates physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology of normal and abnormal blood pressure at a level appropriate for first and second year medical students, as well as for students in allied health sciences. The first section of the book lays a foundation in the physiological basis for blood pressure and its regulation by emphasizing biophysical principles, integrative physiological regulatory systems and cellular mechanisms. These concepts are then used in the second section to understand the pathophysiology and treatment of hypotension and hypertension. Cardiovascular drugs and their mechanisms of action are included, with details provided in an appendix. The book draws from over 45 years of the author’s experience in cardiovascular research and teaching medical students.

There are 32 figures in the main body of the textbook and 11 additional figures in the appendix. Amazon estimates the print length as 134 pages.

As a Kindle book, this ebook can be read on computers (PC or Mac) or handheld devices (Kindles, iPads, Android tablets, iPhones or Android phones). The Kindle Reader application can be downloaded from Amazon (click here) for reading and annotating this ebook on non-Kindle devices. Consistent with the author's desire to have authoritative cardiovascular knowledge available to students at a reasonable price, this book is priced at only $7.99 (USD). The book can be purchased and downloaded from Amazon by clicking on the link to the right.

The textbook section and subsection headings are shown below.

Section 1: Physiology of Normal Blood Pressure
            Systemic and pulmonary circulations
            Normal systemic arterial pressure
                        Mean arterial pressure
                        Arterial pulse pressure
                        Autonomic nerves
                        Vascular resistance and tone
                        Arterial baroreceptor reflexes
                        Cardiopulmonary baroreceptors
                        Other neural reflexes
                        Circulating hormones
                        Effects of gravity
                        Effects of respiration
            Normal pulmonary arterial pressure

Section 2: Pathophysiology and Treatment of Abnormal Blood Pressure
            Arterial hypotension
                        Orthostatic hypotension
                        Hypotensive shock
                                    Hemorrhagic shock
                                    Cardiogenic shock
                                    Septic shock
            Systemic arterial hypertension
                        Primary hypertension
                        Secondary hypertension
                        Hypertensive crisis
            Pulmonary arterial hypertension

Appendix (Supplemental Resources)
            Signal transduction mechanisms
            Beta-adrenoceptor blockers
            Beta-adrenoceptor agonists
            Alpha-adrenoceptor blockers
            Alpha-adrenoceptor agonists
            Vasopressin
            Phosphodiesterase inhibitors
            Diuretics
            Calcium-channel blockers
            Drugs acting on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
            Direct acting vasodilators
            Nitroprusside
            Endothelin antagonists

Richard E. Klabunde, Ph.D.
September 2013