According to medical statistics, hypertension is a commonly detected violation of the cardiovascular system. The development of hypertension adversely affects the vessels: reduces elasticity, increases fragility. Such processes lead to internal hemorrhage. 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 approaching the age of forty should regularly monitor their blood pressure, 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 important, they are asked to doctors by people who are interested in their health condition. Stable values of high pressure can cause certain changes in the functioning of the human body. The following diseases are affected:
- the condition of the vessels that accompany atherosclerosis;
- infrakt;
- 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 more susceptible to children whose parents have been diagnosed with hypertension;
- age (over 45 years) and gender (morbidity rate is higher in men);
- overweight and obesity that arise for various reasons (functional disorder of the body, low mobility, eating foods rich in animal fats, salt, regular overeating);
- skull and brain damage;
- cholesterol levels are significantly increased by the norm;
- hormonal changes in the female body during menopause;
- alcohol abuse, smoking, addiction to caffeinated beverages;
- complications after infectious or viral diseases;
- neglect of walks in favor of staying 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 - according to the etiology (cause of occurrence) and according to the degree (stage) of development.
In a situation where the nature of high blood pressure can not be determined with certainty, the doctor will announce the diagnosis of primary (essential) hypertension. It is 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 vary in their 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 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 pathology of the internal organs, it often occurs without pronounced symptoms.
With a moderate form of the disease, blood pressure values are in the range 160-179 / 100-109 mm Hg. Art. The heart, the patient's kidneys begin to suffer, the condition of the retina changes, atherosclerotic plaques form in the blood vessels. In most cases, functional transformations occur invisibly.
Severe third-degree hypertension combines diagnostic pathologies of the heart, brain, visual organs, vascular system, and blood pressure readings above 180/110 mm Hg. Art. There is a high risk of hypertensive crisis
Characteristic symptoms
Early and secondary stage hypertension may not cause symptoms, which is a risk factor for the patient. The main symptoms indicating the development of a pathological condition are 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, vomiting, feeling of tinnitus, a veil before the eyes.
A person with hypertension experiences other symptoms of high blood pressure:
- decreased vision, feeling that the eyes are being pressed;
- frequent bleeding from the nose;
- increased intracranial pressure;
- short-term loss of consciousness;
- instability of emotions, mood swings;
- development of insomnia;
- physical activity causes severe redness of the facial skin;
- vomiting that has no nutritional cause;
- rapid pulse and heartbeat;
- change in memory, its deterioration;
- considerable swelling of the extremities, face.
Signs of high blood pressure during the development of a severe stage of the disease are associated with 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, microglapping, stroke.
Symptoms of hypertension can be present in a patient in different combinations, have a different nature of manifestation: persistent, strong, once. A special feature of the disease is that a person is dominated by high blood pressure.
Diagnosing
Sufficient basis for a thorough examination of the patient in case of suspicion of developing hypertension in him are three cases of increase in pressure indicators within a month. This symptom can not 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 is used as daily monitoring of blood pressure. 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. Indicators of cholesterol, protein, potassium, calcium, glucose, hemoglobin level, lipid spectrum are important for the diagnosis of 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 his study, the following methods are used:
- auscultation - with the help of the phonoscope the sounds produced by the organ are heard, the rhythm of its work is noticed;
- ecg - decoding the electrocardiogram taken by the patient allows a detailed assessment of heart function for a certain period of time;
- Ultrasound and echocardiographic diagnostic methods detect defects of the myocardium and valves, allow to correlate the sizes of atria, ventricles;
- The Doppler study makes it possible to assess the condition of the vessels;
- arteriography - the result of the monitoring informs about the changes in the walls of the arteries, their damage, the location of the cholesterol plaques.
If hypertension is suspected, an examination of the fundus, 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 where a secondary form of pathology develops, therapy involves the removal of the disease, the main cause of increased pressure in the patient.
List of drugs
Eliminating high blood pressure values will help taking the 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 the usual diet. Moderate and severe forms of the disease should 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 permeability;
- beta-blockers correct heartbeats;
- 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, arrhythmia;
- 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.
Giving first aid at home
Cases of uncontrolled increase in blood pressure in a patient with hypertension are not uncommon. With an immediate deterioration of his condition, relatives are advised to call an ambulance immediately. Prior to its arrival, the following steps must be taken:
- eliminate panic in patients with hypertension, calm it down: a stressful situation helps increase blood circulation, increase pressure;
- 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, to lean, to relax;
- it is required to apply a cold compress on the forehead region, while the feet should be warm (you can use heating pads or mustard plaster);
- an urgent need to take the medicine recommended by the doctor is necessary;
The process of giving 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 should be handed over to doctors.
General prevention tips
Prevention of hypertension consists of a number of measures. Doctors advise changing lifestyle, diet, using popular experience to normalize the condition.
The medical institution will note the tremendous harm to patients with hypertension from alcohol and smoking and will advise them to give up. Moderate physical activity, free outdoor walks, easy 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. Patients should consume limited salt, sugar and fluids.
Popular methods of treatment, known for a long time, will not allow the pressure to increase. Infusions and decoctions, based on medicinal herbs, bee products, vegetables or nuts and other ingredients, are selected individually in the required proportions.