Objective
The purpose of this curriculum is to give teachers the opportunity to present detailed medical information to their students. My wish is that more students will be stimulated by the opportunity to learn about their health, and the health of their family. Hypertension has a strong genetic component. Therefore, it will be common to have students mention family members (or themselves) that take the pharmaceuticals discussed. By the end of the unit, students should have a firm understanding of the sources and consequences of high blood pressure, as well as its possible pharmaceutical treatment, enabling them to make an informed decision on how this subject affects their own life. While this topic may encourage students to open up about their own health, the instructor needs to be mindful of the privacy of their students. It is also important to note that while the facts discussed in this curriculum are valid in the general population, medicine does not always follow strict rules in individuals. Medicine attempts to treat the "average" person. Likewise, this curriculum may not be applicable to specific cases. Lastly, while my intent is to provide detailed medical information, this curriculum (and its contents), is in no way a substitute for a physician's examination/opinion.
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