High pressure

• Disease:hypertension
• What is surprising:cardiovascular system, target organs (brain, kidneys, other organs)
• Causes:Nervous overload, hormonal imbalance, vascular dystonia of various origins.
• Symptoms:headache, dizziness, weakness, spots before the eyes
• Complications:strokes, myocardial infarction, kidney disease
• Doctor:cardiologist
• Treatment:conservative, lifestyle modification
• Prevention:diet, timely check-up

Hypertension: what type of disease is it?

Blood pressure is one of the main indicators of the stability of the functioning of the cardiovascular system. It is measured in millimeters of mercury and at rest it should not exceed 120/80.

To understand what hypertension is, it is necessary to know what blood pressure is. At the moment of contraction of the heart, a certain volume of blood is pushed into the vessels; This depends on the force of contraction of the heart muscle. The blood is then distributed throughout the body through vessels, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the cells.

The walls of healthy blood vessels are elastic. They stretch easily when large volumes of blood are released at the time of contraction of the heart muscle and contract rapidly when it relaxes.

Problems begin when the walls of the blood vessels lose their elasticity or if blood flow is obstructed due to changes in the walls of the blood vessels (atherosclerosis plaques, loss of elasticity). An increase in internal pressure on the vascular walls is called hypertension.

Additionally, increased blood pressure is caused by too much blood secreted by the heart and excessively thick blood, which has difficulty moving through the vessels. Not only atherosclerosis, but also spasms during stressful situations, smoking and some systemic diseases cause vasoconstriction.

Hypertension (hypertension, essential hypertension) is considered a "disease of civilization": it is one of the most common causes of death and disability worldwide.

The danger of persistent high blood pressure is associated with a high risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. In addition to the medical problem, the problem of hypertension also has a social aspect. Every year, more and more young people under 40 years of age complain of high blood pressure. Although just a couple of decades ago, the age structure of patients was dominated by people over 60 years of age.

What blood pressure is considered high?

Blood pressure is a variable value. During periods of increased physical activity, the heart works harder as the muscles need additional oxygen. And during sleep and rest, the amount of blood pumped by the heart decreases and the pressure decreases.

Normally, blood pressure should not exceed 120/80 mm. rt. Art. The first number is called systolic pressure: it is the load on the walls of the blood vessels immediately after the heart valve opens. This moment can be felt by placing your hand on the left side of the chest or feeling the pulse on the wrist. The maximum pressure in the blood vessels occurs immediately after the heartbeat, which is why it is also called cardiac or systolic.

The second number is the pressure in the interval between impacts, i. e. during the rest period of the heart muscle, it is called diastolic.

If the tonometer, when regularly measuring blood pressure, shows figures higher than normal, then the cardiologist diagnoses "arterial hypertension" or "hypertension. "Furthermore, even an increase in a single number indicates pathology.

Causes of high blood pressure

In the vast majority of observations, blood pressure rises steadily with hypertension. This form of hypertension is called primary. Primary hypertension develops gradually; Most of the time, high blood pressure problems appear after the age of 50.

There are many reasons for frequent increases in blood pressure. New data on cardiovascular diseases periodically appear in modern science and medicine. However, the mechanism of development of hypertension has not yet been fully studied.

The main theory of hypertension is neurogenic. It was developed by domestic scientists and is still considered one of the most reliable. According to him, the impetus for the emergence and development of pathology is nervous overload that affects the brain structures that regulate pressure.

Additionally, a persistent increase in blood pressure can lead to:

• Violation of vascular tone due to brain or spinal cord injuries. The cause of high blood pressure can also be osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: constant tension in the muscles of the back and neck causes spasm of blood vessels.
• Hormonal imbalance during pregnancy, menopause, menstruation or while taking oral contraceptives.

Symptoms

Hypertension is a dangerous disease that does not manifest itself immediately. Early warning signs are often ignored and unpleasant symptoms are attributed to overwork or a mild cold.

High blood pressure symptoms may appear periodically, but some occur regularly. It is necessary to pay attention to the signs of hypertension in the initial stage of the disease:

• headache in the occipital and temporal parts;
• constant weakness, decreased performance, feeling tired even in the morning;
• dizziness accompanied by mild nausea;
• tinnitus, hearing problems;
• flickering spots before the eyes, blurred vision;
• change in emotional state, development of anxiety, nervousness for the most insignificant reasons;
• rapid pulse, periodic chest pain;
• increased sweating, chills;
• feeling of shortness of breath, inability to breathe deeply;
• periodic nosebleeds.

The symptoms of high blood pressure can appear individually or in combination, but even one of the alarming signs of discomfort is reason enough to consult a doctor.

Important!Taking pain relievers for a typical high blood pressure headache may temporarily relieve the symptoms of hypertension, but pain relievers do not eliminate the root cause. Prolonged attempts to alleviate the condition with pills can aggravate the course of the disease and complicate further treatment.

You should also pay attention to symptoms such as swelling of the hands and feet (especially in the morning), frequent redness and swelling of the face, and memory impairment.

Risk factor's

Since the causes of hypertension have not yet been completely elucidated, it is more correct to talk about conditions predisposing to a persistent increase in blood pressure. Main:

• Floor.In men, hypertension develops more frequently between the ages of 40 and 50 and they are more prone to this disease. In women, the first symptoms in most cases appear during menopause and are associated with hormonal changes during this period.
• Living under constant stress:Difficult work that requires constant concentration, family problems, difficulties in personal life, financial problems, etc.
• Genetic predisposition.If both parents or at least one of them suffer from hypertension, the risk of developing the disease increases significantly.
• High levels of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.Atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels are one of the main reasons for the gradual increase in blood pressure with age.
• Sedentary lifestyle, long work at the computer without breaks for walks in the fresh air.Physical inactivity prevents enough oxygen from entering the blood and slows blood circulation. Congestion negatively affects the tone of blood vessels, the walls of which gradually lose their elasticity.
• Overweight and obesity.People with a high body mass index almost always have high blood pressure. This is due to the fact that high weight requires an increase in the amount of circulating blood, which significantly increases the load on the heart. In addition, excess weight is often due to poor diet, which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and impairs blood flow.
• A diet with excess salty and fatty foods.Salt retains fluid in the body and causes swelling. Excessive salt consumption is associated with a fast pace of life, failure to maintain healthy eating habits and an unbalanced diet.
• Side effect after taking certain medications.People prone to hypertension are not recommended to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, some cough and headache remedies, especially those containing caffeine or codeine.
• Of smoking.Nicotine and tar that enter the bloodstream with tobacco smoke cause vasospasm and increased blood pressure.
• Alcohol abuse.Almost all people who drink alcohol frequently are diagnosed with hypertension.

Secondary hypertension occurs in diseases of various organs and systems:

• kidney diseases(renal artery stenosis) cause a deterioration in the blood supply to the kidney and a compensatory "increase" in blood flow;
• endocrine system- blood pressure increases with tumors of the adrenal cortex, thyroid diseases and some other hormonal disorders;
• nervous system- encephalitis, brain tumors, etc.

The cause of the persistent increase in blood pressure is established after a thorough and complete examination. Correct identification of the causes of the disease determines the effectiveness and nature of subsequent therapy.

Important!Normalization of blood pressure in secondary hypertension depends on treatment of the underlying disease. Taking blood pressure lowering medications without a doctor's prescription will not produce the desired effect.

What to do with high blood pressure

Taking into account the high prevalence of arterial hypertension and the large number of risk factors for the appearance and development of pathology, each person should have a device for measuring blood pressure. It is best to make daily blood pressure measurement a habit and do it twice a day, in the morning and at night.

If the tonometer readings consistently exceed the norm, then a visit to the doctor cannot be postponed.

You can reduce your blood pressure and normalize your condition before visiting a specialist using several simple and accessible methods:

• Give a light massage to the head and neck area. Circular massage movements will increase blood flow and relieve vascular spasms.
• You can take a warm bath with a sea salt solution. The water temperature must be controlled very carefully; It should not be significantly higher than body temperature. A bath that is too hot can only worsen the condition.
• Mustard plasters placed on the back of the neck or in the ankle area will help dilate the arteries and normalize blood flow.

If your blood pressure suddenly rises and you do not feel well, you should lie quietly in a dark room, without being distracted by gadgets.

Important!When your blood pressure rises, it is not recommended to be glued to your smartphone or laptop, watching TV, or reading. Excessive eye strain will cause a further increase in blood pressure readings.

If the diagnosis of hypertension has already been established, it is necessary to take all medications prescribed by the doctor strictly according to the prescribed regimen. You should not stop taking your medications at the first sign of improvement.

What to do before the doctor arrives

If a hypertensive crisis develops, it is necessary to call an ambulance. There are several simple ways to normalize the condition that can be used before the doctor arrives. These recommendations are important for anyone who suffers from high blood pressure or lives with people at higher risk. This is what you can do:

• place 1 tablet of a vasodilator drug under the tongue until completely absorbed;
• lie on your back with a high pillow under your head;
• open the window, unbutton the buttons on your clothes, provide a stream of fresh air;
• take a warm foot bath for 10 to 15 minutes;
• Drink an alcoholic solution of motherwort or valerian.

Important!Refusal of treatment during a hypertensive crisis can lead to a stroke or heart attack.

Preventive measures

The fact that any disease is easier to prevent than to treat more accurately describes hypertension. If at least one of the risk factors for the development of hypertension is present, it is necessary to start paying increased attention to preventive measures as soon as possible:

• keep a blood pressure diary, where you record the tonometer readings, including the pulse rate, twice a day;
• eat well, normalize weight and abandon bad eating habits: overeating, consuming excessively fatty foods, large amounts of sweet and salty foods;
• stop drinking alcohol and smoking - alcoholic beverages, even in small doses, have an extremely negative effect on the state of blood vessels;
• regularly spend time on physical activity and walking in the fresh air, and it is better to exercise in the gym under the supervision of an experienced trainer;
• Avoid stress if possible; This will be helped by regular communication with friends and family, relaxation outside the home, and normalization of relationships in the team and family.

A healthy lifestyle and careful attention to your health are the key to good health for many years.

Treatment of high blood pressure

Treatment of hypertension is carried out on an outpatient basis or in a hospital.

Mandatory hospitalization is required in case of hypertensive crisis with high risk of stroke. In this condition, the patient must be under constant medical supervision until the dangerous symptoms disappear. In the future, the patient can proceed to outpatient treatment, subject to strict compliance with medical recommendations.

The treatment regimen for hypertension and the composition of complex therapy is determined by the attending physician based on the results of a comprehensive examination.

Pills and medications

Modern pharmacology offers a wide variety of hypertension drugs of various types. Most of them are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. Along with the positive aspects of this approach, there are also negative aspects. Many people who suffer from high blood pressure start taking medications by chance or on the advice of friends and family, which causes the disease to worsen.

Medicines for the treatment of hypertension are divided into several large groups:

• angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)- medicines that inhibit the production of certain hormones in the body that constrict blood vessels;
• sartans- blockers of receptors that perceive hormones that affect vascular tone;
• calcium antagonists- dilate blood vessels and reduce the resistance of their walls;
• dihydropyridinesLong- and short-acting drugs selectively affect the state of blood vessels.

Among drugs that lower blood pressure, diuretics, beta-blockers and other groups of drugs should also be noted.

Medicines for the treatment of hypertension are selected strictly individually based on the results of the examination. They must be taken in strict accordance with the regimen prescribed by the attending physician.

Diet

Adequate and balanced nutrition is an important factor in the prevention and treatment of hypertension. A diet for high blood pressure must be balanced.

Alcohol should be completely eliminated from the diet and its consumption should be limited to:

• animal fats, palm oil, butter and coconut, margarine;
• sweet products, white bread, milk chocolate and other sweets;
• salt - no more than 5 g per day, taking into account its amount in finished products.

It is advisable to include in the diet as much as possible:

• sea fish, rich in healthy fatty amino acids;
• fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables (at least 5 per day), herbs;
• vegetable oils: olive, linseed, sunflower, corn, sesame;
• foods rich in fiber (in addition to vegetables and fruits, this includes brown rice and durum wheat pasta);
• whole grain porridge.

If you have high blood pressure, you should be careful when drinking coffee. A cup of freshly ground coffee in the morning will not hurt, but during the day it is better to drink clean water or green tea.

Home remedies

Folk remedies are widely used to reduce blood pressure and improve the general condition of the body, but they can only be taken after consulting a doctor. You should understand that any traditional medicine can only complement the main treatment and cannot replace it.

The following will help lower blood pressure:

• garlic tincture;
• a mixture of boiled beets with honey and lemon;
• oat decoction;
• viburnum infusion;
• clove decoction and some other remedies.

Ready-made antihypertensive herbal mixtures can be purchased at a pharmacy; This is much safer than buying them on the market.

What not to do if you have hypertension

Strict prohibitions and restrictions relate mainly to severe stages of hypertension. At the first symptoms of the disease, only alcohol and tobacco are completely prohibited.

The development of the disease can be stopped by correcting lifestyle and diet: abandoning bad habits, moderate physical activity, proper nutrition and avoiding stressful situations.

Complications

It should be understood that the health of the whole body depends on the state of the cardiovascular system. Vascular pathology in hypertension can lead to serious consequences, in particular, stroke and myocardial infarction.

Other complications of hypertension include:

• atherosclerosis, heart failure, angina pectoris;
• visual disability;
• diabetes mellitus and other endocrine pathologies;
• cerebral hemorrhages, encephalopathy and others.

A timely visit to a doctor and strict compliance with all recommendations will help you avoid dangerous complications associated with high blood pressure.

Conclusion

Persistent increase in blood pressure or hypertension is the most common pathology of the cardiovascular system in the world. Despite doubts about the causes of the disease, modern medicine has learned to successfully combat it. The key to success is to contact a specialist at the first symptoms, a healthy lifestyle and trust in your doctor.