According to medical statistics, hypertension is a frequently detected violation of the cardiovascular system. The development of hypertension adversely affects the vessels: it reduces elasticity, increases fragility. Such processes lead to internal bleeding. Often, persistent high blood pressure leads to the progression of life-threatening conditions: cardiac ischemia, myocardial infarction or stroke.
Early diagnosis of hypertension, timely prescribed treatment allows the patient to avoid the manifestation of changes that can significantly worsen health indicators or lead to death. People whose age is approaching forty and older should regularly monitor their blood pressure readings, 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 cause its progress? These questions remain relevant, they are asked to doctors by people interested in their state of health. Sustained high pressure values can cause some changes in the functioning of the human body. The following diseases are affected:
- the state of the vessels accompanying 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 more susceptible to children whose parents are diagnosed with hypertension;
- age (over 45 years) and sex (the morbidity rate among men is higher);
- overweight and obesity that arise for various reasons (functional disruption of the body, poor mobility, consumption of foods rich in animal fats, salt, regular excessive nutrition);
- injury to the skull and brain;
- significantly higher cholesterol levels than normal;
- 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 staying indoors with no fresh air.
Hypertension accompanies patients for whom an unstable emotional state is the norm. Psychological distress, an attack of aggression or anger, being under stress, personal life tragedies 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 the hypertension 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, which require 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 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, it often occurs without pronounced symptoms.
With an average form of the disease, blood pressure values range from 160–179 / 100–109 mm Hg. Art. The patient's heart, kidneys begin to suffer, the state of the retina changes, atherosclerotic plaques are formed 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 early 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 the spasm of the cerebral vessels, their narrowing. Additional signs are general weakness, fatigue, nausea, tinnitus sensation, a veil in front of the eyes.
A hypertensive person experiences other symptoms of hypertension:
- decreased vision, sensation of squeezing in the eyes;
- 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 cause;
- rapid pulse and heart rate;
- change in memory, its deterioration;
- significant 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 pectoris, myocardial infarction. Symptoms of hypertension are combined with kidney failure, changes in the blood supply to the brain, micro-stroke, stroke.
Symptoms of hypertension can be present in a patient in different combinations, have a different nature of manifestation: stable, strong, one-off. A special feature of the disease is that a person is dominated by hypertension.
Diagnostics
Sufficient reasons for a comprehensive 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 take measurements independently 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 blood pressure monitoring. The instruments record the pressure values during the day (every 15 minutes) and at night (twice per hour).
To determine the change in the functions of the body, clinical blood and urine tests assigned to the patient allow it. 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 hypertension and the development of hypertension is indicated by improper functioning of the heart muscle. For the study of him 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 the electrocardiogram taken from the patient allows a detailed assessment of the functions of the heart for a certain period of time;
- ultrasonic and echocardiographic diagnostic methods reveal defects of the myocardium and valves, allow to correlate the size of the atria, ventricles;
- The Doppler study allows to evaluate 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, a fundus examination, ultrasound diagnostics of the kidneys and renal arteries, adrenal glands are prescribed.
Therapeutic measures
Treatment of hypertension involves the use of drugs that can keep blood pressure close to normal. In cases where a secondary form of pathology is established, therapy provides for the elimination of the disease, the main cause of the increase in pressure in the patient.
List of drugs
Eliminating high blood pressure values will help to take medications strictly according to the doctor's instructions. The first degree of hypertension does not require medical attention, the patient is recommended to change the lifestyle and habitual diet. Moderate and severe forms of the disease should be controlled using groups of medicines:
- diuretics (thiazides) contribute to the natural withdrawal of liquids accumulated in the patient's tissues, reducing swelling, with a consequent increase in 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 channel blockers 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.
First aid at home
Cases of an uncontrolled rise 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. Before his arrival, the following steps should be taken:
- eliminate panic in hypertensive patients, calm it - 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 back, relax;
- it is necessary to apply a cold compress on 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 removal of blood pressure indicators (every 10 minutes), the measurement results must be recorded in writing, then the sheet must be given to doctors.
General prevention tips
Prevention of hypertension consists of a number of measures. Doctors advise to change lifestyle, diet, using folk experience to normalize the condition.
The medical institution will point out the exceptional harm to hypertensive patients of alcoholic beverages and smoking and advise them to give up. Moderate physical activity, pleasant 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, fatty meats should be avoided, and fresh bread should not be eaten. Vegetables, fruits, herbs, meat and dietary dairy products, cereals (rice, buckwheat), legumes should be the main ingredients of the new menu. Patients with salt, sugar and liquids need limited consumption.
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 components, are selected individually in the required proportions.