According to medical statistics, hypertension is an often detected violation of the cardiovascular system. The development of hypertension negatively affects the 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 and timely prescribed treatment allow the patient to avoid the manifestation of changes that can significantly worsen health indicators or lead to death. People approaching the age of forty or older should regularly monitor blood pressure values, have a blood pressure monitor at home, and seek medical help if other symptoms of the condition are detected.
causes of hypertension
What can cause hypertension in a person? What factors can trigger your progress? Such questions remain relevant, they are asked to doctors by people interested in their health status. Sustained high pressure values can cause certain changes in the functioning of the human body. The following diseases are affected:
- the state of the vessels that accompanies atherosclerosis;
- cardiac insufficiency;
- diabetes;
- drop;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- kidney pathology.
Other factors contribute to the development of hypertension. The cause of the disease is associated with:
- heredity: pathologies are more susceptible to children whose parents are diagnosed with hypertension;
- age (over 45 years old) and sex (the morbidity rate among men is higher);
- overweight and obesity due to various reasons (functional disruption of the body, low mobility, intake of foods rich in animal fats, salt, regular overeating);
- skull and brain injury;
- cholesterol levels significantly higher than the norm;
- hormonal changes in the female body during menopause;
- alcohol abuse, smoking, dependence on caffeinated beverages;
- complications after infectious or viral diseases;
- neglecting walks in favor of being indoors without fresh air.
High blood pressure accompanies patients for whom an unstable emotional state is the norm. Psychological discomfort, attack of aggression or anger, being under stress, tragedies in personal life increase the values of the indicators.
Classification and stages of the disease
Two methods are used to classify a hypertensive problem - by etiology (cause of occurrence) and by degree (stage) of development.
In a situation where the nature of high blood pressure cannot be determined with certainty, the doctor will announce the diagnosis of primary (essential) hypertension. It is the most common, seen in 95% of patients. The remaining 5% of people have a secondary form of the disease, which is an additional manifestation of other pathologies, requiring their therapy.
Three stages of the process differ in symptoms and severity: mild, moderate, and severe.
A mild degree of hypertension is characterized by an increase in blood pressure within the limits:
- systolic blood pressure of 140 to 159 mm Hg. Street;
- diastolic blood pressure of 90 to 99 mm Hg. Art.
The course of the disease at this stage is not complicated by the pathology of Organs internal organs, it often occurs without pronounced symptoms.
With an average form of the disease, blood pressure values are in the range of 160–179/100–109 mm Hg. Art. The patient's heart, kidneys begin to suffer, the state of the retina changes, atherosclerotic plaques form in the vessels. In most cases, functional transformations occur inconspicuously.
Severe third-degree hypertension combines diagnosable pathologies of the heart, brain, organs of vision, vascular system and blood pressure indicators above 180/110 mm Hg. Art. There is a high risk of hypertensive crisis
characteristic symptoms
Early and middle 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 accompany the patient often and for a long time, they occur due to the spasm of the cerebral vessels, their narrowing. Additional signs are general weakness, fatigue, nausea, a feeling of tinnitus, a veil before the eyes.
A hypertensive person experiences other symptoms of high blood pressure:
- decreased vision, feeling that the eyes are squishing;
- frequent nosebleeds;
- increased intracranial pressure;
- short-term loss of consciousness;
- instability of emotions, mood swings;
- development of insomnia;
- physical activity causes severe redness of the skin of the face;
- vomiting that has no nutritional causes;
- rapid pulse and heartbeat;
- change in memory, its deterioration;
- significant swelling of the extremities, face.
Signs of high blood pressure during the development of a severe degree of the disease are accompanied by complications of the heart and blood vessels: heart failure, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction. Symptoms of hypertension are combined with kidney failure, changes in the blood supply to the brain, microstroke, stroke.
Symptoms of hypertension can be present in a patient in different combinations, have a different nature of manifestation: stable, strong, unique. A special feature of the disease is that a person is dominated by high blood pressure.
Diagnosis
Sufficient reasons for a thorough 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.
It is recommended that the patient independently take measurements using a tonometer several times a day and record the results. In the conditions of a medical institution, a diagnostic method such as daily blood pressure monitoring is used. The instruments record pressure values during the daytime (every 15 minutes) and nighttime (twice an hour) period.
To determine the change in body functions, clinical examinations of blood and urine assigned to the patient allow. Indicators of cholesterol, protein, potassium, calcium, glucose, hemoglobin level, lipid spectrum are important for the diagnosis of the disease.
The presence of characteristic signs of high blood pressure and the development of hypertension are indicated by improper functioning of the heart muscle. For its study, the following methods are used:
- auscultation - with the help of a phonendoscope, the sounds produced by the organ are heard, the rhythm of its work is observed;
- ecg - the decoding of the electrocardiogram taken from the patient allows a detailed assessment of the heart's functions for a certain period of time;
- diagnostic ultrasound and echocardiographic methods reveal defects of the myocardium and valves, allow to correlate the sizes of the atria, ventricles;
- The Doppler study allows assessing the state of the vessels;
- arteriography - the result of monitoring informs about changes in the walls of the arteries, their damage, the location of cholesterol plaques.
If hypertension is suspected, an eye fundus examination is prescribed, ultrasound diagnosis of the kidneys and renal arteries, adrenal glands.
therapeutic measures
Treatment of hypertension involves the use of medications that can keep the pressure close to normal. In cases where a secondary form of pathology is established, therapy involves eliminating the disease, the root cause of the increased pressure in the patient.
drug list
Eliminating high blood pressure values will help to take the medications strictly as per the doctor's instructions. The first degree of hypertension does not require medical treatment, the patient is recommended to change the usual lifestyle and diet. Moderate and severe forms of the disease must be controlled with the use of drug groups:
- diuretics (thiazide) contribute to the natural removal of fluid accumulated in the patient's tissues, reduce their swelling, resulting in increased vascular permeability;
- beta-blockers correct the heart rate;
- sartans - a single intake of funds is able to normalize blood pressure, maintaining the result obtained for a day;
- calcium antagonists correct cardiac activity, are prescribed for severe angina pectoris, arrhythmias;
- angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors dilate blood vessels, prevent their spasms;
- Alpha-adrenergic blockers improve the condition of peripheral vessels.
The doctor prescribes a certain drug or a combination of them for each patient, taking into account the general condition of the patient, concomitant diseases.
Providing first aid at home
Cases of an uncontrolled increase in blood pressure in a patient with hypertension are not uncommon. With a sudden deterioration in her condition, relatives are advised to immediately call an ambulance. Prior to your arrival, the following steps must be taken:
- eliminate panic in hypertensive patients, calm it down: a stressful situation helps to increase blood circulation, increase pressure;
- the condition can be improved by taking herbal sedatives (Corvalol, motherwort, valerian);
- it is important to comfortably accommodate a person, it is recommended that he sit in a comfortable position, lean over, relax;
- it is necessary to apply a cold compress to the frontal region, while the legs must be warm (you can use heating pads or mustard plasters);
- urgent intake of the medicine recommended by the doctor is required;
The process of providing first aid is accompanied by the withdrawal of blood pressure indicators (every 10 minutes), the measurement results must be recorded in writing, then the sheet must be given to the doctors.
General prevention tips
The prevention of hypertension consists of a set of measures. Doctors advise changing lifestyle, diet, using popular experience to normalize the condition.
The medical institution will point out the exceptional harm to hypertensive people from alcoholic beverages and smoking, and advise them to desist. Moderate physical activity, leisurely walks in nature, light work are shown.
Improving the condition of patients contributes to the transition to a special diet. Pickles and smoked meats, fried foods, fatty meats should be avoided and fresh bread should not be eaten. Vegetables, fruits, herbs, dietary meats and dairy products, cereals (rice, buckwheat), pulses should be the main ingredients of the new menu. Patients of salt, sugar and liquids need to consume in a limited way.
Popular methods of treatment, known for a long time, do not allow the pressure to rise. Infusions and decoctions, based on medicinal herbs, bee products, vegetables or nuts and other components, are individually selected in the necessary proportions.