What is arterial hypertension: basic concepts and why it is dangerous

Hypertension (hypertension) is the most common disease of the cardiovascular system.

Hypertension is rapidly "rejuvenating", today it is a disease not only of the elderly, but often occurs in pregnant women, and is becoming more common in adolescents.

What is hypertension? The answer to this question can be found in the definition of the state of this disease.

It is characterized by chronically high blood pressure, when the highest value (systolic pressure) exceeds 140 mm Hg, and the lowest (diastolic pressure) is above 90 mm Hg. subject to at least three measurements made at different times on a person who is in a calm state.

Optimal indicators of blood pressure are 120-130 by 80-89 mm Hg, if they are higher, then it is necessary to start actively treating hypertension. However, few diagnose this disease at an early stage: about 35% of men and 55% of women know their high blood pressure, only half of them are involved in the treatment of high blood pressure, and only 6 % of the male population and 20% of the female population control their pressure.

The earlier high blood pressure is identified and controlled, the lower the risk of developing complications of high blood pressure (ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, low blood testosterone levels, erectile dysfunction) in the future.

Hypertension can be one of the causes of impotence in men.

It is useful to keep in mind

The main task of treating hypertension is the constant control of blood pressure in order to avoid even more serious health problems, since this disease cannot be completely cured.

What is dangerous hypertension?

With prolonged high blood pressure, the walls of the blood vessels thicken and lose their ability to relax, which prevents normal blood supply and, as a result, the saturation of tissues and organs with oxygen and other nutrients, and a decrease in its functional activity. Let us consider in more detail what dangerous hypertension is:

• Hypertensive crisis- the most common exacerbation of arterial hypertension can occur both in a relatively satisfactory condition of the patient, and be caused by psychophysical stress of the patient. Developing at high speed, a hypertensive crisis dramatically increases blood pressure, causes severe headache, dizziness, tachycardia or arrhythmia, nausea and vomiting. At risk are those who suffer from climate dependency, they are in the pre-climate period.
• myocardial infarction- Complicated by hypertension can occur within a few minutes and lead to death. The main symptom is a prolonged pain attack.
• Race- circulatory disorders in the vessels of the brain, cerebral hemorrhage, characterized by a sudden and severe headache, which is quickly joined by other symptoms of the brain: slurred speech, crooked mouth, paralysis of a part of the body. If urgent measures are taken and capillary bleeding is performed in case of hypertension, then this process can be reversible.
• angina pectoris- the disease is less transient. Violation of the heart causes severe emotional overload, overwork. Accompanied by severe dull chest pain, malaise, can cause frequent vomiting.
• Heart failure- a chronic condition of the heart muscle, in which it cannot provide oxygen to the organs and tissues of the body. It is characterized by the complete weakness of the patient, in which he cannot withstand elementary physical activity: independent weight lifting, walking, etc.
• coronary artery disease- insufficient blood supply to the coronary arteries, resulting in insufficient nutrition of the heart. With careful adherence to the prescribed treatment for hypertension, it is not difficult to prevent the development of coronary heart disease.
• renal insufficiency- impaired kidney function, destruction of neurons, partial inability to remove toxins from the body. Arterial hypertension is the second cause of acute or chronic renal failure after diabetes mellitus.
• vision distortion- Occurs as a result of poor blood supply to the retina and optic nerve. A sudden increase in blood pressure can cause a spasm of the artery that feeds the optic nerve and damage the integrity of the retinal vessels. Hypertension is dangerous with pathologies such as retinal or vitreous hemorrhage: the first leads to the formation of a black spot in the field of vision, the second leads to loss of vision in the affected eye.

In order to avoid any complications that are such dangerous hypertension, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner and conduct an examination that will help determine the stage of development of the disease and prescribe the required treatment.

Degrees of hypertension: classification, forms.

Due to the nature of evaluating one or more criteria, various classifications of hypertension are used.

Assign stages of development such as the origin, the form of leakage, the level of blood pressure, the degree of damage to target organs.

The main task when making a diagnosis of arterial hypertension is to differentiate the nature of the disease. There are two big groups here:

• primary or essential hypertension: increased blood pressure is the main cause;
• secondary or symptomatic arterial hypertension - high blood pressure is caused by diseases of other organs or systems: kidneys, heart, endocrine glands, lungs, thyroid gland.

According to experts

Treatment of symptomatic hypertension cannot occur without treatment of the disease that caused it and begins with it. In some cases, along with the elimination of the underlying disease, hypertension also disappears.

Also, blood pressure, up to a hypertensive crisis, can increase due to improper intake of certain drugs, with neuroses, excessive use of caffeine and other stimulants.

When diagnosing essential hypertension, doctors usually classify the disease based on the level of blood pressure in order to choose the appropriate tactics to treat essential hypertension. In international practice, there are three degrees of hypertension:

• Hypertension 1 degree- systolic pressure 140-159 mm Hg, diastolic pressure 90-99 mm Hg. A mild form of the disease, in which a sharp change in blood pressure is characteristic, can return to normal on its own and rise again.
• Hypertension 2 degrees- systolic 160-179 mm Hg, diastolic 100-109 mm Hg. Moderate form, the increase in pressure is more prolonged, rarely drops to normal values.
• hypertension 3 degrees- systolic above 180 mm Hg, diastolic above 110 mm Hg. Severe form, the pressure is stable at the level of pathological indicators, continues with serious complications and is difficult to correct with medication.

Separately, isolated systolic hypertension is isolated, it occurs in about a third of older people with high blood pressure. This form is due to age-related loss of elasticity of the great vessels, often accompanied by myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Blood pressure indicators: systolic up to 160 mm Hg. and more, diastolic - below 90 mm Hg.

Useful information

It is worth noting another minor group - the so-called "white coat hypertension", when, under the influence of psycho-emotional factors, a person's blood pressure rises only at the moment when it is measured by a medical worker. In such cases, the diagnosis is clarified by repeated pressure measurement in a quiet home environment.

In addition to the degree of hypertension, when making a diagnosis, the risk factors that can lead to complications of the cardiovascular system and the stage of the clinical course of the disease are also evaluated:

• Transistor overvoltage (initial stage). The pressure increase is periodic, returning to normal values; Medications that lower blood pressure are not used.
• labile hypertension. An increase in blood pressure is directly related to a provoking factor: stress, severe psychological or physical stress. To stabilize the pressure, medication is needed.
• Stable arterial hypertension. Persistent increase in pressure, in which serious supportive therapy is used.
• malignant form. By increasing the pressure to very high levels, the disease progresses rapidly and leads to the development of serious complications.
• crisis form. Periodic hypertensive crises in the setting of normal or slightly elevated blood pressure are characteristic.

Assessment of the severity of hypertension and the risk of possible complications is possible only on the basis of a comprehensive examination: general and biochemical tests, ultrasound of the heart and other organs, ECG, fundus examination. A complete examination of a patient with high blood pressure is usually carried out during hospital treatment.

High blood pressure is the main warning symptom of hypertension in both men and women.

Symptoms of hypertension can be absent for a long time, and if a person does not constantly use a tonometer, he can find out about her disease and has already begun to treat its complications.

Often, hypertension has no manifestations at all, except for its main symptom - persistent high blood pressure.

Also, the concept of "persistent" or "chronic" is key here, because in a number of situations (stress, fear, or anger), the pressure can build up and then return to normal on its own.

However, few control the level of their pressure, so you should pay attention to the following symptoms, which indicate the development of arterial hypertension:

• Headache. Most often it manifests itself in the occipital, parietal region or in the temples. It can occur both at night and immediately after waking up. As a general rule, it increases with mental or physical exertion. Sometimes accompanied by swelling of the eyelids and face.
• Dizziness. Sometimes, even with little physical exertion - coughing, turning or tilting the head, a sharp increase.
• Pain in the region of the heart. It occurs not only with emotional stress, but also at rest. Both prolonged and oppressive pains and short-term stabbing pains are possible. Do not go away after taking nitroglycerin.
• Strong heartbeat.
• Noise in the ears.
• Visual impairment - veil, fog, "flies" before the eyes.
• Arterial disease: cold extremities, intermittent claudication.
• Leg swelling. Indicate a violation of the excretory function of the kidneys or heart failure.
• Dyspnoea. It occurs both during physical exertion and at rest.

it's important to know

Hypertensive crisis - an emergency caused by excessively high blood pressure levels, can also be classified as symptoms of hypertension 2 and 3 degrees. At the same time, patients with arterial hypertension of the first degree, strictly following the doctor's recommendations and following a diet for hypertensive patients, can achieve the complete disappearance of unpleasant symptoms of the disease.

It cannot be said that the symptoms of hypertension in men and women are significantly different, but in fact, men are more susceptible to this disease, especially in the age group of 40-55 years. This is partly due to the difference in the physiological structure: men, unlike women, have a higher body weight, respectively, and the volume of blood circulating in their vessels is significantly higher, which creates favorable conditions for high blood pressure.

On the other hand, women are more responsible for their health, proper lifestyle. The number of stressful situations at work, alcohol and cigarette consumption is higher in men, but this no longer refers to the symptoms of hypertension, but to the causes of its development.

Treatment of hypertension with drugs and folk remedies.

The treatment of hypertension, as well as other diseases that are difficult to diagnose and require constant therapy (diabetes mellitus, allergies, prostatitis and impotence), should be compiled and prescribed only by a specialist. If food restrictions, salt intake, avoidance of alcohol and tobacco, avoidance of stress, and other correctable causes of hypertension do not help normalize blood pressure levels, high blood pressure pills will be prescribed.

When hypertension is treated with home remedies, side effects are usually absent. You don't have to run to the pharmacy for expensive medications and stand in line for the doctor to write another prescription. All you have to do is take some time for yourself, change your diet, and learn how to manage stress.

Causes of high blood pressure and the development of hypertension.

The causes of high blood pressure are still not completely clear, both the internal systems of the body and external factors play an important role in the development of the disease.

The main causes of hypertension are poor blood circulation through the vessels, limited flow to the left ventricle of the heart. In modern medicine, there is a completely logical explanation for this: structural changes in blood vessels with age, the formation of blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques in their cavities.

If in symptomatic hypertension the causes of high blood pressure are caused by other diseases, then in essential hypertension, that is, this form is recorded in 85% of cases, the exact causes of high blood pressure cannot be established high, occurs independently.

There are many risk factors that contribute to a persistent increase in blood pressure, usually considered as the causes of hypertension. These include:

• Age, for men over 55 years of age, for women over 65 years of age. With age, the walls of blood vessels lose their elasticity, which increases their resistance to blood flow, as a result, pressure increases.
• hereditary predisposition.
• Floor. As already mentioned, men are more prone to hypertension.
• Violation of fat metabolism, obesity (men with a waist circumference of more than 102 cm, women - more than 88 cm).
• Diabetes.
• Of smoking. It causes an immediate increase in blood pressure and smokers with many years of experience are prone to vascular diseases.
• Alcohol abuse. The blood pressure of a person who stops drinking is reduced by at least fifteen points.
• Excessive intake of salt. Excessive intake of sodium, the main component of table salt, is one of the most important causes of high blood pressure in hypertensive patients: sodium chloride prevents the elimination of fluids from the body, which increases the already high vascular tone of the patient. Remember, the average person consumes three times the amount of salt they need, learn not to add salt to your food.
• Lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle.
• Exposure to stress.
• Disruption of cholesterol metabolism.
• Insufficient dietary intake of potassium.
• Increased level of adrenaline in the blood.
• Congenital heart defects.

Various kidney diseases, late toxicosis of pregnant women, regular intake of certain drugs, in some cases this also applies to oral contraceptives, should be attributed to the causes of secondary hypertension.

The above risk factors can be divided into two large groups:

• Which can be eliminated on their own or with the help of doctors: treat obesity, reduce blood cholesterol levels, the number of cigarettes smoked, alcohol or salt consumption, lose weight, etc.
• Avoid what is not possible: age and hereditary predisposition.

Therefore, those who are in the so-called second risk group should carefully monitor their health, control and prevent hypertension. And for everyone who has at least one of the above factors, constantly monitor the level of blood pressure and, of course, lead a normal and active lifestyle.