According to medical statistics, hypertension is a frequently noted violation of the cardiovascular system. The development of hypertension negatively affects the vessels: it reduces elasticity and increases fragility. Such processes lead to internal bleeding. Often, prolonged hypertension leads to the progression of fatal 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 and over should check their blood pressure regularly, have a blood pressure monitor at home and seek medical help if other symptoms of the disease are noticed.
Causes of high blood pressure
What can cause high blood pressure in a person? What factors can provoke its progress? Such questions remain relevant, they are asked to doctors by people who are interested in their state of health. Sustained high levels of pressure can cause certain changes in the way the human body functions. The following diseases are affected:
- the condition of the vessels associated with atherosclerosis;
- heart failure;
- diabetes mellitus;
- Gout;
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- renal pathology.
Other factors contribute to the development of high blood pressure. The cause of the disease is associated with:
- Heredity: pathologies are most prone to children whose parents are diagnosed with hypertension;
- age (over 45 years) and gender (morbidity rate is higher in men);
- Overweight and obesity arising from various reasons (body dysfunction, low mobility, consumption of foods high in animal fats, salt, regular overeating);
- injury to the skull and brain;
- cholesterol level increased significantly above 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. Mental discomfort, an attack of aggression or anger, stress, tragedy 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 grade (stage) of development.
In a situation where the nature of hypertension cannot be reliably determined, the doctor will announce the diagnosis of primary (essential) hypertension. It is the most common and is 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 and requires their therapy.
Three stages of the process differ in symptoms and their severity: mild, moderate and severe.
Mild hypertension is characterized by an increase in blood pressure within the limits:
- systolic blood pressure from 140 to 159 mm Hg. St. ;
- diastolic blood pressure from 90 to 99 mm Hg. Art.
The course of the disease at this stage is not complicated by the pathology of the internal organs, 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 condition of the retina changes, atherosclerotic plaques form in the vessels. In most cases, functional transformations occur imperceptibly.
Severe hypertension of the third degree combines diagnosable 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
Hypertension in the initial and middle stages can not cause symptoms, which is a dangerous factor for the patient. The main symptom indicating the development of a pathological condition is headache and dizziness. They accompany the patient often and for a long time, appear due to spasms of the cerebral vessels, their narrowing. Other signs are general weakness, tiredness, nausea, tinnitus sensation, foggy eyes.
A hypertensive person feels other symptoms of high blood pressure:
- decreased vision, feeling that your eyes are crushing;
- frequent nosebleeds;
- increased intracranial pressure;
- short-term loss of consciousness;
- instability of emotions, mood swings;
- development of insomnia;
- physical activity causes severe reddening of the skin of the face;
- vomiting that is not related to diet;
- rapid pulse and heartbeat;
- change in memory, its deterioration;
- marked swelling of the extremities, face.
Signs of hypertension during the development of a severe degree of the disease are accompanied by complications of the heart and blood vessels: heart failure, arrhythmia, angina, myocardial infarction. Symptoms of hypertension are combined with kidney failure, changes in the blood supply to the brain, microstroke, stroke.
Symptoms of hypertension in a patient can be present in different combinations, have a different type of manifestation: stable, strong, one-time. A distinctive feature of the disease is that a person is dominated by hypertension.
diagnosis
Sufficient grounds for a full examination of the patient when suspecting 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 independently take measurements with a tonometer several times a day and record the results. In the conditions of a medical institution, such a diagnostic procedure as daily monitoring of blood pressure is used. The instruments record pressure values during the day (every 15 minutes) and at night (twice an hour).
To determine the change in body functions, clinical blood and urine tests assigned to the patient allow. Cholesterol, protein, potassium, calcium, glucose, hemoglobin levels and lipid spectrum indicators are important in diagnosing the disease.
The presence of signs characteristic of hypertension and the development of hypertension is indicated by a malfunction in 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;
- ekg - the decoding of the electrocardiogram taken from the patient allows a detailed assessment of the heart functions for a certain period of time;
- Diagnostic methods of ultrasound and echocardiography reveal defects in the myocardium and valves and allow correlation of the sizes of the atria and ventricles;
- Doppler examination allows assessing the condition of the vessels;
- arteriography - the result of the monitoring informs about changes in the walls of the arteries, their damage and the location of cholesterol plaques.
If hypertension is suspected, a fundus examination, ultrasound diagnostics of the kidneys and renal arteries, adrenal glands are prescribed.
therapeutic measures
Treating high blood pressure involves the use of medications that can keep the pressure close to normal. In cases where a secondary form of pathology is detected, therapy consists in eliminating the disease, the main cause of the increase in pressure in the patient.
List of drugs
Getting rid of high blood pressure readings will help to take medication strictly according to the doctor's instructions. The first degree of hypertension does not require medical treatment, the patient is recommended to change the lifestyle and usual diet. Moderate and severe forms of the disease must be controlled with drug groups:
- Diuretics (thiazide) contribute to the natural withdrawal of fluid that has accumulated in the patient's tissues, reduce their swelling, which leads to increased patency of vessels;
- Beta blockers correct heart rate;
- sartans - a one-time intake of funds can normalize blood pressure and keep the achieved result for a day;
- Calcium antagonists correct heart activity, are prescribed for severe angina, arrhythmias;
- Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors dilate blood vessels, prevent their spasm;
- Alpha-adrenergic blockers improve the condition of peripheral vessels.
The doctor prescribes each patient a specific drug or a combination of them, taking into account the general condition of the patient and concomitant diseases.
Provide first aid at home
Cases of uncontrolled rise in blood pressure in patients with hypertension are not uncommon. With a sudden deterioration in his condition, relatives are advised to immediately call an ambulance. Prior to their arrival, the following steps should be taken:
- Eliminate panic in hypertensive patients, calm him 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 to sit in a comfortable position, lean, relax;
- it is necessary to apply a cold compress to the forehead region, while the legs should be warm (you can use heating pads or mustard plasters);
- an urgent need to take the drug prescribed by the doctor;
The process of first aid is accompanied by the removal of sphygmomanometers (every 10 minutes), the measurement results should be recorded in writing, then the sheet must be handed over to the doctors.
General prevention tips
Preventing high blood pressure consists of a number of measures. Doctors advise changing lifestyle, diet and using folk experience to normalize the condition.
The medical institution warns high blood pressure patients about the extraordinary damage caused by alcoholic beverages and smoking and advises them to refrain from doing so. Moderate physical activity, leisurely walks in nature, light work are shown.
Improving the condition of patients contributes to the transition to a special diet. Pickled and smoked meats, fried foods, fatty meats should be avoided and fresh bread should not be eaten. Vegetables, fruits, herbs, dietary meat and dairy products, cereals (rice, buckwheat), legumes should be the main ingredients for the new menu. Patients only have to consume a limited amount of salt, sugar and liquid.
Folk methods of treatment, known for a long time, will not increase the pressure. Infusions and decoctions based on medicinal herbs, bee products, vegetables or nuts and other components are selected individually in the required proportions.