According to medical statistics, hypertension is often a violation of the cardiovascular system. The development of hypertension negatively affects the blood vessels: it reduces elasticity, increases fragility. Such processes lead to internal bleeding. Often, persistent high blood pressure leads to the progression of deadly pathological conditions: cardiac ischemia, myocardial infarction or stroke.
Early diagnosis of hypertension, timely prescribed treatment allow the patient to avoid the appearance of changes that can significantly worsen health indicators or lead to death. People over the age of forty should have their blood pressure monitored regularly, have a blood pressure monitor at home, and seek medical attention if other symptoms of the disease are detected.
Causes of hypertension
What can cause hypertension in a person? What factors can cause his progress? Such questions remain relevant, they are asked by doctors of people who are interested in their health condition. Persistently high pressure values can cause certain changes in the functioning of the human body. The following diseases are affected:
- a condition of the blood vessels that accompanies atherosclerosis;
- Heart Failure;
- diabetes;
- gout;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- renal pathology.
Other factors contribute to the development of hypertension. The cause of the disease is related to:
- heredity: pathologies are most susceptible in children whose parents are diagnosed with hypertension;
- age (over 45 years) and sex (morbidity rate in men is higher);
- overweight and obesity caused by various reasons (functional disorders in the body, low mobility, consumption of foods rich in animal fats, salt, regular overeating);
- skull and brain injuries;
- cholesterol levels significantly elevated above normal;
- hormonal changes in the female body during menopause;
- alcohol abuse, smoking, caffeine addiction;
- complications after infectious or viral diseases;
- neglect of walks in favor of staying indoors without fresh air.
High blood pressure accompanies patients in whom unstable emotional state is the norm. Psychological discomfort, attack of aggression or anger, under stress, personal life tragedies increase the values of indicators.
Classification and stages of the disease
Two methods are used to classify a hypertensive problem - according to the etiology (cause) and according to the degree (stage) of development.
In a situation when the nature of high blood pressure cannot be reliably determined, the doctor will diagnose primary (essential) hypertension. It is the most common, observed in 95% of patients. The remaining 5% of people have a secondary form of the disease, which is an additional manifestation of other pathologies that require their therapy.
The three phases of the process will differ in symptoms and their severity: mild, moderate and severe.
Mild hypertension is characterized by an increase in blood pressure within:
- systolic blood pressure 140 to 159 mm Hg. st;
- diastolic blood pressure 90 to 99 mm Hg. Art.
The course of the disease at this stage is not complicated by pathology of internal organs, it often occurs without pronounced symptoms.
In the average form of the disease, blood pressure values are in the range of 160-179 / 100-109 mm Hg. Art. The patient's heart and kidneys begin to suffer, the condition of the retina changes, and atherosclerotic plaques form in the blood vessels. In most cases, functional transformations occur imperceptibly.
Severe hypertension of the third degree combines diagnostic pathologies of the heart, brain, organs of vision, vascular system and indicators of blood pressure above 180/110 mm Hg. Art. There is a high risk of hypertensive crisis
Characteristic symptoms
Initial and intermediate stage hypertension may not cause symptoms, which is a dangerous factor for the patient. The main symptom that indicates the development of a pathological condition is headache and dizziness. They often follow the patient for a long time, they occur due to spasm of cerebral vessels, their narrowing. Additional signs are general weakness, fatigue, nausea, feeling of tinnitus, veil before the eyes.
A hypertensive person also experiences other symptoms of high blood pressure:
- reduced vision, feeling that eyes are crushing;
- frequent nosebleeds;
- increased intracranial pressure;
- short-term loss of consciousness;
- emotional instability, mood swings;
- development of insomnia;
- physical activity causes severe redness of the facial skin;
- vomiting that has no nutritional causes;
- rapid pulse and heart rate;
- change in memory, its deterioration;
- significant swelling of the extremities, faces.
Signs of high blood pressure during the development of severe disease are accompanied by complications of the heart and blood vessels: heart failure, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction. Symptoms of hypertension are combined with renal failure, changes in the brain's blood supply, microstroke, stroke.
Symptoms of hypertension can be present in the patient in different combinations, they have different nature of manifestation: stable, strong, one-time. The peculiarity of the disease is that high blood pressure dominates in a person.
Diagnosis
A sufficient basis for a complete examination of the patient in case of suspicion of the development of hypertension in him are three cases of increased pressure indicators within a month. This symptom cannot be ignored.
The patient is recommended to perform measurements with a tonometer several times a day and record the results. In the conditions of a medical institution, such a diagnostic method is used as daily monitoring of blood pressure. Instruments record pressure values during the day (every 15 minutes) and at night (twice an hour).
Clinical blood and urine tests given to the patient are possible to determine changes in body functions. Indicators of cholesterol, protein, potassium, calcium, glucose, hemoglobin levels, lipid spectrum are important for the diagnosis of the disease.
The presence of signs characteristic of high blood pressure and the development of hypertension indicates a malfunction of the heart muscle. The following methods are used to study it:
- auscultation - with the help of a phonendoscope, the sounds produced by the organ are heard, the rhythm of its work is observed;
- ECG - decoding of the electrocardiogram taken from the patient allows a detailed assessment of cardiac function for a certain period of time;
- ultrasound and echocardiographic diagnostic methods detect myocardial and valve defects, allow correlation of the size of the atria, ventricles;
- Doppler study allows assessment of the condition of blood vessels;
- arteriography - the result of monitoring informs about changes in the walls of arteries, their damage, the location of cholesterol plaques.
If hypertension is suspected, fundus examination, ultrasound diagnosis of the kidneys and renal arteries, adrenal glands are prescribed.
Therapeutic measures
Treatment of hypertension involves the use of medications that can keep blood pressure close to normal. In cases when a secondary form of pathology is established, the therapy includes relief from the disease, the main cause of increased pressure in the patient.
Drug list
Taking medication strictly according to your doctor's instructions will help eliminate high blood pressure values. The first degree of hypertension does not require treatment, the patient is recommended to change their lifestyle and usual diet. Moderate and severe forms of the disease must be controlled using groups of drugs:
- diuretics (thiazides) contribute to the natural withdrawal of fluid accumulated in the patient's tissues, reduce their swelling, resulting in increased vascular patency;
- beta-blockers correct heart rate;
- sartans - a single intake of funds can normalize blood pressure, keeping the result for one day;
- calcium antagonists correct cardiac activity, are prescribed for severe angina pectoris, arrhythmias;
- angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors dilate blood vessels, preventing their spasms;
- alpha-adrenergic blockers improve the condition of peripheral blood vessels.
The doctor prescribes a specific drug or a combination of them for each patient, taking into account the general condition of the patient, the accompanying diseases.
Providing first aid at home
Cases of uncontrolled increase in blood pressure in patients with hypertension are not uncommon. With his condition suddenly deteriorating, relatives are advised to call an ambulance immediately. Before her arrival, the following steps need to be taken:
- eliminate panic in hypertensives, calm him down: a stressful situation helps to increase blood circulation, increase blood pressure;
- the condition can be improved by taking herbal sedatives (corvalol, lemon balm, valerian);
- it is important to comfortably place the person, it is recommended to sit in a comfortable position, lean back, relax;
- it is necessary to apply a cold compress on the front region, while the feet should be warm (you can use heating pads or mustard patch);
- urgent intake of medication recommended by a doctor is necessary;
The process of providing first aid is accompanied by the removal of the blood pressure indicator (every 10 minutes), the results of the measurement should be recorded in writing, and then the sheet should be handed over to the doctors.
General prevention tips
Prevention of hypertension consists of a number of measures. Doctors advise changing lifestyle, diet, using folk experience to normalize the condition.
The health institution will point out the exceptional damage to hypertensives of alcoholic beverages and smoking and advise them to give up. Moderate physical activity, easy walks in nature, light work are shown.
Improving the patient's condition contributes to the transition to a special diet. You should avoid pickles and smoked meat, fried foods, fatty meats, and do not eat fresh bread. Vegetables, fruits, herbs, dietary meat and dairy products, cereals (rice, buckwheat), legumes should be the main ingredients of the new menu. Patients should consume salt, sugar and fluids in moderation.
For a long time, well-known folk remedies will not allow the pressure to rise. Infusions and decoctions based on medicinal herbs, bee products, vegetables or nuts and other components are selected individually in the required proportions.