According to the World Health Organization, high blood pressure is one of the most common diseases. Hypertension occurs in every third person and is characterized by high mortality rates in severe stages. Only complex treatment combining medication and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be successful.
What is high blood pressure
What hypertension is, it is a chronic disease, a pathology of the cardiovascular system. It develops as a result of disruption in the work of higher centers responsible for the functionality of blood vessels. Dangerous hypertensive complications and accompanied by internal diseases.
One of the main manifestations of the disease is hypertension (blood pressure), which decreases only after taking special and powerful drugs.
Hypertension refers to a pressure of 140/90 mm Hg. and higher when confirmed by two medical examinations.
Hypertension is divided into different types:
- essential arterial hypertension,
- symptomatic arterial hypertension,
- chronic high blood pressure,
- vascular hypertension.
Symptomatic or secondary hypertension accounts for only 10% of all reported cases. Hypertensive syndrome - the second name of the disease - most often accompanies systemic lupus erythematosus, urolithiasis, anomalies and tumors of the kidneys, ischemia, toxicosis in late pregnancy, renal tuberculosis. Despite the fact that hypertension does not have its own signs and characteristics, it seriously aggravates the underlying disease.
Essential hypertension is a separate form of the disease.
Chronic high blood pressure is usually caused by excess calcium in the blood, infectious diseases (which become chronic), diabetes mellitus, and heredity. It manifests itself in nervousness, absent-mindedness, tiredness and weakness, frequent numbness in the arms and legs, speech disorders, left ventricular hypertrophy and frequent pain in the heart area.
How does high blood pressure arise?
The mechanism of the development of hypertension is as follows: in response to a stressor, a violation of tone regulation occurs in the peripheral vessels. The result is spasm of the arterioles and the formation of a dyscirculatory and dyskinetic syndrome. The release of neurohormones in the aldosterone system is significantly increased. This causes a delay in the vascular bed of sodium and water, which increases the volume of blood circulation and increases pressure. During the disease, the viscosity of the blood also increases, which leads to a decrease in the rate of metabolism in the tissues. The walls of the vessels increase, the gap between them narrows, which impairs blood flow. A high resistance in the periphery makes the disease irreversible. As a result of increased permeability and impregnation of the walls of blood vessels with blood plasma, atherosclerosis and elastofibrosis develop, which leads to serious changes in the tissues of some organs.
High blood pressure cannot occur spontaneously in humans. Hypertension is usually preceded by vegetative-vascular dystonia (VD), a frequent accompaniment of which is varicose veins.
Varicose veins and hypertension are related: the increased activity of the vessel walls in SVD leads to a reduction in their diameter. The resistance of the vessel wall to blood flow increases, which increases blood pressure. Varicose veins are characterized by thickening of the vessel wall, the formation of pockets and narrowings inside, which disrupt normal blood flow. Diseased veins can no longer cope with blood flow, which leads to the formation of edema in tissues and chronic stagnation of veins. This can lead to the development of gangrene, sepsis and even death.
classification of the disease
The hypertensive disease differs in the causes of the increase in pressure, the organ damage, the level of blood pressure and the course. The disease can be benign or slowly progressive or rapidly progressive - malignant. More important is the classification according to the level and stability of the pressure. Distinguish between:
- normal GB (up to 129/85 mm Hg),
- limit (up to 140/90 mm Hg),
- 1st degree high blood pressure (up to 160/100 mm Hg),
- 2 degrees (up to 180/110 mm Hg),
- 3 degrees (above 180/110 mm Hg).
Benign hypertension has three stages. The first, or mild, is characterized by increases in pressure to 180-104 mm Hg, but returns to normal after a brief pause. Some people complain of headaches, insomnia, fatigue and reduced performance. In most cases, however, the mild stage proceeds without pronounced individual symptoms.
The second or middle stage is characterized by a pressure of up to 200-115 mm Hg. at rest. It is accompanied by severe and throbbing pain in the head, dizziness, pain in the heart area. The examination reveals damage to the heart. Sometimes subendocardial ischemia is noted. Stroke, transient ischemia of the brain are possible.
The third or severe stage is accompanied by stable and sharp increases in pressure. At the beginning of the stage, the increased pressure is intermittent and usually manifests itself after physical exertion, as well as changes in atmospheric pressure and emotional upheavals. Normalization is possible after a heart attack or stroke. Headless high blood pressure is common after a heart attack. That is, a condition when only the systolic or pulse pressure decreases.
Reasons for the development of the disease
The causes of hypertension lie in the violation of the regulatory activity of the main parts of the central nervous system that control the work of all internal organs. Frequent excessive and excessive demands, both physically and mentally, long-lasting, constant and strong restlessness, stress can lead to development.
Night work and often noisy environments can also trigger the disease.
The risk group includes lovers of salty foods. Salt causes artery spasms and prevents fluid from being transported away. Heredity plays an important role. The probability of occurrence of the disease increases when two or more relatives have hypertension.
Some diseases also provoke the development of hypertension. These include:
- diseases of the adrenal glands and kidneys,
- thyroid disease,
- Obesity,
- diabetes,
- tonsillitis,
- atherosclerosis.
Among women in the highest risk group are those who are going through menopause. This is due to hormonal changes in the body, emotional exacerbations, nervous reactions. During menopause, about 60% of all diseases occur in women.
In men, age and gender determine the increased risk. Hypertension in their 20s and 30s develops in about 9% of men. At the age of 40, the percentage increases to 35 and after 65 years already to 50%. Hypertension is more common in men under the age of 40 than in women. In the older age group, the ratio changes - this is explained by a large percentage of male mortality from complications.
The causes of hypertension lie in hypodynamia and bad habits. The components of tobacco smoke provoke spasms of the blood vessels and damage the thin walls of the arteries. Lack of exercise goes hand in hand with a slower metabolism and when the load increases, an untrained heart tires many times faster.
symptoms
The clinic of hypertension in the initial stage can be mild. A person may not even be aware of the increased pressure and processes developing in the vessels for a long time. Early and first signs of high blood pressure are irritability for no apparent reason and increased fatigue.
Symptoms of hypertension in the early stages: neurotic disorders, weakness, sleep disturbances, noise and ringing in the ears and dizziness, palpitations.
People notice a decrease in efficiency, a loss of focus. There is shortness of breath. Headaches associated with high blood pressure are more common in the temples and back of the head in the morning. It may increase at the end of the day and when lying on your back. They are associated with a violation of the tone of venules and arterioles. Symptoms of high blood pressure include pain in the heart area. This is due to the increased work of the heart muscle to overcome the increasing resistance. This leads to a dissociation between the needs and capabilities of the myocardium, resulting in angina pectoris.
Signs of hypertension at a later stage are the haze and flickering of "flies" in front of the eyes, as well as other photopsias. They are explained by spasms of the arterioles of the retina. Malignant hypertension can be accompanied by bleeding in the retina, leading to blindness. In rare cases, the symptoms of hypertension are manifested by vomiting, swelling of the hands and numbness of the fingers, morning chills - heaviness in the eyelids and swelling of the face, excessive sweating.
Complications of hypertension
Complications of high blood pressure:
- hypertensive crisis,
- visual impairment,
- circulatory disorders in the brain
- nephrosclerosis,
- subarachnoid hemorrhage,
- dissecting aortic aneurysm,
- bradycadia,
- Damage to target organs (kidneys, heart, brain, veins and arteries, fundus vessels),
- Hypertensive cardiomyopathy (HLH, left ventricular hypertension)
- Hypertonic type angiodystonia.
Hypertensive Crisis
First you need to understand what a hypertensive crisis is. This term denotes an acute and significant increase in blood pressure, which is accompanied by symptoms characteristic of the disease. In addition to hypertension, it can be provoked by:
- Chronic and acute glomerulonephritis,
- toxicosis in late pregnancy,
- renovascular hypertension,
- benign brain tumors,
- heavy metal poisoning,
- kidney failure.
Crises can be caused by hormonal imbalances and sudden weather changes. One of the most common causes is trauma of a psycho-emotional nature. Symptoms: severe and severe headache, nausea with nausea, dizziness, fainting, temporary blindness and other visual disturbances, weakness, mood swings, lacrimation. brain symptoms:
- vasospasm,
- violation of the permeability of the vascular walls,
- Entry of blood plasma into the marrow, causing edema.
In the early stages of the disease, crises are mild and short-lived.
The danger of a crisis in the possible development:
- retinal detachment,
- Stroke,
- Acute pulmonary edema
- cardiac asthma,
- Heart attack,
- Angina.
Complications of hypertension pose a serious threat to human life and require regular monitoring by a doctor.
Bradycadia
A common and dangerous complication of hypertension. It manifests itself depending on the form. The mild form can go unnoticed. Severe, frequent and persistent dizziness with high blood pressure may indicate a pronounced form of the disease. Symptoms also include - semi-faintness and frequent fainting, sudden changes in pressure. The severe form is accompanied by fainting and brief cardiac arrest. Treatment of bradycardia with hypertension can be done with homeopathic and medicinal remedies. Usually prescribed diuretics, alpha blockers, nifedicipine. From homeopathy, calendula, St. John's wort, strawberries, shakers are prescribed.
Complications include the following syndromes in hypertension:
- myocardial injury,
- kidney damage,
- vascular encephalopathy,
- Syndrome of arterial hypertension.
Associated clinical conditions: ischemic stroke, CHF, coronary revascularization, renal failure, arterial disease, papilledema.
target organ damage
A heart
Left ventricular hypertrophy develops most frequently. This happens because the heart muscle has to push blood into the deformed vessels with great effort. Such work leads to thickening of the muscle wall and a lack of blood flow. This is dangerous with muscle strain and heart fatigue. Another pathology is a violation of the diastolic function of the Lzh. The increasing fatigue of the heart muscle leads to a moment when it cannot take a relaxed position. The thickened wall cannot relax during the diastolic phase, when oxygen saturation normally occurs. All this leads to the third pathology - chronic insufficiency. It is caused by a constant lack of oxygen. It is very difficult to treat the disease, and in combination with other pathologies, it leads to death.
Ships
Arterial vessels in hypertension are in a constantly narrowed state due to the contraction of the muscular layer. As a result, the vessels no longer relax and the muscle tissue is replaced by connective tissue. This is called vascular remodeling. Associated with this complex and irreversible consequence are vision loss, peripheral atherosclerosis of the extremities, and other diseases.
Brain
Bleeding causes almost 25% of all strokes. And high blood pressure is the main cause of bleeding, which has a high percentage of deaths. Inadequate blood supply to the brain leads to an ischemic stroke. This complication accounts for more than 70% of cases. It is caused by narrowing of the cerebral arteries or blockage of the duct by a thrombus. Another pathology is hypertensive encephalopathy. This is an emergency, accompanied by a severe headache, high blood pressure and neurological symptoms. If you have high blood pressure, there is a chance that you will develop cognitive impairment and dementia. These are changes in the subcortical substance and brain atrophy responsible for violations of thought processes.
kidneys
One of the most common complications is microalbuminuria. The earliest sign of kidney damage and the development of renal insufficiency. Chronic kidney failure is characterized by the kidneys losing their ability to remove metabolic waste products from the blood.
diagnosis of the disease
Effective treatment of hypertension is possible only with early diagnosis and compliance with all rules and recommendations. High blood pressure is not always an indicator of high blood pressure, it can be situational. And with repeated visits to the doctor, this is not recognized. A single measurement of pressure may not reveal the disease: with recurring symptoms, it is necessary to measure blood pressure in dynamics. After diagnosis, doctors conduct differential diagnosis to determine the symptomatic form of the disease.
pressure measurement
Dynamic pressure measurement is used to determine the degree and presence of the disease. It is carried out as follows: the atmosphere should be comfortable and calm. The measurements begin no earlier than ten minutes after the patient has been admitted. One hour before the visit, smoking, taking food and strong drinks (tea, coffee, alcohol), any physical activity, using eye or nose drops are excluded. During the first treatment, the blood pressure is measured on both hands of the patient, a second measurement after 2 minutes.
If the reading differs by more than 5 mm Hg. Continue measurements on the arm with high pressure.
treatment of high blood pressure
How to treat high blood pressure depends on the stage of the disease, complications, age and many other parameters. The medical treatment options are selected by the attending physician. The desire to fight the disease alone can have devastating consequences. Modern treatment of hypertension begins with non-drug methods that increase the effectiveness of drugs many times over. You need to start by setting a daily routine, reducing stress, not forgetting about exercise and long walks. Diet is an important factor in dealing with high blood pressure. The patient should refuse or significantly reduce the intake of salt, drink less, completely eliminate alcoholic beverages and coffee. If you follow all the recommendations, you can avoid drug treatment of the disease.
In treatment, it is important not only how to deal with hypertension, but also how to eliminate the causes of hypertension.
Usually drugs are used to treat:
- diuretic,
- Inhibitors
- Type 2 receptor antagonists
- calcium channel blockers.
Blood pressure medication – by prescription only
homeopathic treatment
Considering the question of how to get rid of hypertension, it is worth paying attention to homeopathic remedies. They are usually recommended when the target organs are already affected. Homeopathy for hypertension has an important advantage: a mild effect. Medicines have no contraindications or side effects. The disadvantage is that treatment with homeopathic remedies is rather slow. When choosing this method, consider the following:
- Homeopathic medicines are prescribed simultaneously with medicines
- Combination of medication and a healthy lifestyle
- With an average level of risk, this type is often the only possible one.
Inpatient treatment of hypertension
As a rule, inpatient treatment is carried out in the case of a complicated hypertensive crisis:
- Acute hypertensive encephalopathy,
- cardiac asthma,
- pulmonary edema,
- acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction),
- aortic aneurysm,
- Severe arterial bleeding
- eclampsia.
Upon admission, the doctors at the clinic start with the most important diagnostic measures:
- Every 15 minutes measurement of blood pressure dynamics,
- electrocardiography,
- General analysis of blood and urine,
- echocardiography,
- Biochemical analysis to detect potassium, sodium, urea, calcium, creatinine, fibrinogen, coagulogram,
- ophthalmoscopy.
Also, the patient must be prescribed an appointment with a neurologist, Reberg's test and rheoencephalography, as well as determining the type of cerebral hemodynamics. During hospitalization, inpatient treatment depends on the occurrence of complications, the severity of the attack and other diseases. First aid is aimed at reducing the activity of the left ventricle and eliminating symptoms such as:
- peripheral vasoconstriction,
- cerebral ischemia,
- heart failure.
Of great importance in the treatment of a complicated seizure is the introduction of antihypertensive drugs, hospitalization in the intensive care unit and regular monitoring of blood pressure.
Non-drug treatment of a hypertensive state includes strengthening immunity, body cleansing, massage, gymnastics and diet. It is important to follow the doctors' instructions and not to violate the established scheme.
How to live with high blood pressure
How long people with high blood pressure live is an important question for those who have been diagnosed. The consequences of the disease depend on the stage and the nature of its course. Severe forms, vascular damage, the third stage of the disease and disorders of the target organs worsen the prognosis. Premature death occurs from heart attacks and strokes, acute heart failure. Poor prognosis for early sufferers.
The life expectancy of hypertensive patients depends not only on the correct intake of medication and regular visits to the doctor, but also on personal attitude and observance of the basic rules. These include:
- mental climate,
- Diet,
- physical exercises,
- No bad habits.
Another important prerequisite is to understand what kind of disease it is, how it develops and what consequences it has for the whole body. To understand the peculiarities of the course of the disease does not require medical training. There are many good books and manuals written for ordinary people. One of them is "Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases" by A. Yakovlev, which briefly and clearly outlines the main definitions of hypertension, as well as the most common treatment regimens for hypertension.
mental climate
Having figured out how to treat hypertension and choosing a treatment method, you need to turn to an equally important issue - a healthy lifestyle. It is impossible to work a night shift, frequent quarrels, constant and long business trips, severe emotional stress, negative emotions, fears, anger. All these conditions are accompanied by the production of adrenaline in large quantities, which leads to disruption of the circulatory and nervous systems. It's important to control your emotions, think more positively, and eliminate sources of stress from your surroundings. Herbal teas, meditations, walks, doing what you love will help.
By creating the most comfortable conditions around you, a person increases the chances of his recovery.
diet
Obesity and high blood pressure are incompatible. Even if there are no extra pounds, treatment begins with a diet correction. In the initial stages, this is enough to control the pressure and prevent it from rising. There are several ways to lose weight with high blood pressure. The most important is calorie restriction. This can be achieved by eliminating or reducing the daily diet of sweet and fatty foods, as well as flour products. A weight loss diet should not be confused with fasting: it is forbidden for hypertensive patients. To lose weight and normalize blood pressure, you should also monitor the amount of animal fats in food. It is necessary to exclude foods rich in cholesterol as much as possible, and switch to low-fat varieties of fish, fruits and vegetables, natural vegetable oils. It is worth completely abandoning sausages, lard, fried meatballs and fatty meats, butter and fatty cheeses.
Contraindications for hypertension - all drinks and foods that stimulate the nervous system. These include not only tea, coffee and alcohol, but also carbonated drinks, hot spices, fragrant spices.
It is important to include foods rich in potassium and magnesium in your diet. These elements have a good effect on the heart muscle, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and the nervous system. A lot of potassium is contained in:
- plums,
- apricots,
- cabbage,
- Pumpkin,
- bananas.
Magnesium rich:
- buckwheat, oat and millet groats,
- Carrot,
- Turnip,
- Blackberry,
- parsley and lettuce leaves
- walnuts
An important rule: these products should not be combined with milk. Calcium has a negative effect on the digestibility of elements.
physical exercises
Complications of arterial hypertension and the disease itself do not mean that the patient should abstain from any activity. Gymnastics, simple exercises, yoga or long walks, swimming are indicated for hypertensive patients. The movement not only carries positive emotions, but also helps against obesity.
You should start with the easiest workouts and gradually increase the time and complexity of the exercises. This also applies to swimming and walking.
Rehabilitation for hypertension in the third stage, as well as complications such as stroke, coronary artery disease and angina pectoris should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor. Usually, patients are sent to special resorts for sanatorium treatment for rehabilitation. This includes a whole range of measures: proper nutrition, physical activity, medication.