According to medical statistics, hypertension is a frequently detected violation of the cardiovascular system. Developing hypertension negatively affects the vessels: it reduces elasticity, increases fragility. Such processes lead to internal hemorrhages. 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 manifestation of changes that can significantly worsen health indicators or lead to death. People whose age is approaching forty years and older should regularly monitor blood pressure values, have a blood pressure monitor at home, and seek medical help if other symptoms of the disease are detected.
Causes of hypertension
What can cause hypertension in a person? What factors can provoke its progress? Such questions remain relevant, they are asked to physicians by people who are interested in their state of health. 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;
- heart failure;
- diabetes;
- gout;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- kidney pathology.
Other factors contribute to the development of hypertension. The cause of the disease is associated with:
- heredity: pathologies are most susceptible to children whose parents are diagnosed with hypertension;
- age (over 45 years) and sex (morbidity rate among men is higher);
- overweight and obesity arising for various reasons (functional disruption of the body, low mobility, eating foods high in animal fats, salt, regular overeating);
- injury to the skull and brain;
- cholesterol levels significantly elevated from the norm;
- hormonal changes in the female body during menopause;
- alcohol abuse, smoking, addiction to caffeinated drinks;
- 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, an attack of aggression or rage, being 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 - by etiology (cause of occurrence) and by degree (stage) of development.
In a situation where the nature of high blood pressure cannot be reliably determined, the doctor will announce the diagnosis of 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, requiring their therapy.
Three stages of the process will differ in symptoms and their severity: mild, moderate and severe.
A mild degree of hypertension is characterized by an increase in blood pressure within the boundaries:
- 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 heart, kidneys of the patient begin to suffer, the state of the retina of the eyes changes, atherosclerotic plaques form in the vessels. In most cases, functional transformations occur imperceptibly.
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
Hypertension of the initial and middle stages may 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, occur due to spasm of cerebral vessels, their narrowing. Additional signs are general weakness, fatigue, nausea, a feeling of tinnitus, a veil before the eyes.
A hypertensive person feels other symptoms of high blood pressure:
- decreased vision, feeling that the 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 does not have 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 renal failure, changes in the blood supply to the brain, microstroke, stroke.
Symptoms of hypertension may be present in a patient in different combinations, have a different nature of manifestation: stable, strong, one-time. A special feature of the disease is that a person is dominated by high blood pressure.
Diagnostics
Sufficient grounds 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 independently take measurements using a tonometer several times a day, and record the results. In the conditions of a medical institution, such a diagnostic method as daily monitoring of blood pressure is used. The instruments record pressure values during daytime (every 15 minutes) and nighttime (twice an hour) time.
To determine the change in the functions of the body, clinical blood and urine tests assigned to the patient allow. Indicators of cholesterol, protein, potassium, calcium, glucose, hemoglobin level, lipid spectrum are important for diagnosing the disease.
The presence of signs characteristic of high blood pressure and the development of hypertension is 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 - decoding of the electrocardiogram taken from the patient allows a detailed assessment of the functions of the heart for a certain time period;
- ultrasonic and echocardiographic methods of diagnostics reveal defects of the myocardium and valves, allow to correlate the sizes of the atria, ventricles;
- Doppler study makes it possible to assess 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 examination of the fundus, ultrasound diagnostics of the kidneys and renal arteries, adrenal glands are prescribed.
Therapeutic measures
Treatment of hypertension involves the use of drugs that can maintain pressure close to normal. In cases where a secondary form of pathology is established, therapy involves getting rid of the disease, the root cause of the increase in pressure in the patient.
List of drugs
Taking medications strictly according to the doctor's instructions will help to eliminate high blood pressure values. The first degree of hypertension does not require medical treatment, the patient is recommended to change his lifestyle and habitual diet. Moderate and severe forms of the disease must be controlled using groups of medicines:
- diuretics (thiazide) contribute to the natural withdrawal of fluid accumulated in the tissues of the patient, reduce their swelling, resulting in increased vascular patency;
- beta-blockers correct heart rate;
- sartans - a one-time intake of funds is able to normalize blood pressure, keeping 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 uncontrolled increase in blood pressure in a patient with hypertension are not uncommon. With a sudden deterioration in his condition, relatives are advised to immediately call an ambulance. Prior to her 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, he is recommended to sit in a comfortable position, lean on, relax;
- it is required to apply a cold compress to the frontal region, while the legs should be warm (you can use heating pads or mustard plasters);
- an extraordinary intake of the medicine recommended by the doctor is necessary;
The process of providing first aid is accompanied by the removal of blood pressure indicators (every 10 minutes), the measurement results should be recorded in writing, then the sheet must be handed over to the doctors.
General Prevention Tips
Prevention of hypertension consists of a set of measures. Doctors advise changing lifestyle, diet, using folk experience to normalize the condition.
The medical institution will point out the exceptional harm for hypertensive patients of alcoholic beverages and smoking, and advise them to abandon them. 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 meat and dairy products, cereals (rice, buckwheat), legumes should be the main ingredients for the new menu. Salt, sugar and liquid patients need to consume limited.
Folk methods of treatment, known for a long time, 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.