Pocket Hypertension: Fast Facts, Diagrams, Tables and Algorithms at your Finger Tips

A Hypertension Reference Built for Quick Answers

Pocket Hypertension is a concise clinical guide to high blood pressure, assembled for readers who need reliable information without paging through a large textbook. Published in 2020 by Learning Innovations and written by Dr. Paul Schmitz, the book brings together fast facts, diagrams, tables, and algorithms that support rapid review and point-of-care consultation.

What the Guide Covers

The contents move from broad epidemiology to specific clinical decisions. Early sections address the worldwide and U.S. burden of hypertension, measurement pitfalls, validated home devices, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, white coat and masked hypertension, and major guideline classifications. Later sections examine pathophysiology, clinical trials, drug classes, dosing, lifestyle strategy, and complex presentations.

• Diagnosis and measurement: practical issues in blood pressure assessment, including at-home devices and 24-hour monitoring.
• Clinical trials: summaries of landmark studies such as VA Cooperative, HDFP, SHEP, HYVET, ALLHAT, ACCORD, SPRINT, ONTARGET, and DASH.
• Pharmacology: thiazide diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, renin-angiotensin system agents, central agents, and vasodilators.
• Dosing and combinations: pharmacokinetic principles, dosing guidelines, common combination agents, and antihypertensive use in pregnancy.
• Clinical approach: initial evaluation, lifestyle modification, the DASH eating plan, potassium and sodium considerations, stepped therapy, comorbidities, and resistant hypertension.
• Emergencies and secondary causes: severe hypertension, acute stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, renal artery stenosis, hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, and drugs that raise blood pressure.
• Device therapies: catheter-based denervation, baroreceptor stimulation, and device-guided breathing.

Evidence and Practical Decision-Making Together

One of the guide’s strengths is the way it connects trial evidence with everyday clinical questions. Rather than presenting research in isolation, it places major studies alongside guideline classifications, drug mechanisms, and treatment approaches. That structure can help readers understand why certain therapies are chosen, how recommendations have shifted over time, and where uncertainty remains.

Pharmacology and Dosing at a Glance

The pharmacology sections review the main antihypertensive drug families and their roles in practice. Dosing tables, combination strategies, and pregnancy considerations make this material useful for clinicians who prescribe or monitor these medications. The emphasis on pharmacokinetic principles also supports safer, more informed decisions when therapy needs to be adjusted.

Beyond the Office Visit

Hypertension care does not end with a prescription. The guide gives attention to lifestyle factors, including the DASH eating plan, potassium-rich foods, and salt reduction. It also addresses resistant hypertension, secondary causes, and hypertensive emergencies, where timely recognition and treatment matter. Device-based options are included for readers who want an overview of emerging nonpharmacologic approaches.

Who May Find This Reference Useful

The compact format and clinical orientation make this book relevant for medical students, residents, fellows, nurses, and practicing clinicians who manage blood pressure. It can support teaching, rounds, and quick reference in primary care, cardiology, nephrology, and hospital settings. Readers looking for a broad introduction to hypertension will find a structured overview, while those already familiar with the field can use it as a rapid refresher.

A Focused Addition to a Digital Medical Library

Pocket Hypertension is designed for readers who value clear organization over lengthy exposition. Its tables, diagrams, and algorithms turn complex material into accessible summaries, making it a practical companion for clinical learning and review. This digital edition from Digital Delights is suited to anyone building a focused medical reference collection.