High pressure

• Disease:hypertension
• What amazes: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:cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarction, kidney disease
• Doctor:the cardiologist
• Treatment:conservative, lifestyle modification
• Prevention:diet, time control

Hypertension - what kind 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 should not exceed 120/80.

To understand what hypertension is, you need to know what blood pressure is. At the moment of contraction of the heart, a certain volume of blood is pushed into the vessels - it depends on the strength of the contraction of the heart muscles. The blood is then distributed throughout the body through the blood vessels, supplying the cells with oxygen and nutrients.

The walls of healthy blood vessels are elastic. They stretch easily when large volumes of blood are released when the heart muscle contracts and contract quickly when it relaxes.

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

Also, the increase in blood pressure is caused by excess blood emitted by the heart and excessively thick blood, which has difficulty moving through the blood vessels. Not only atherosclerosis, but also spasms during stressful situations, smoking and some systemic diseases lead to 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 risk of persistently high blood pressure is associated with a higher 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 the age of 40 complain of high blood pressure. Although only a few decades ago, the age structure of patients was dominated by people over 60 years old.

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 require 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 - this is the load on the walls of the blood vessels immediately after the opening of the heart valve. This moment can be felt by placing the hand on the left side of the chest or by feeling the pulse in the wrist. The maximum pressure in the blood vessels occurs immediately after the heartbeat, therefore it is also called cardiac or systolic.

The second number is the pressure in the interval between impacts, d. m. th. during the resting period of the heart muscle, it is called diastolic.

If the tonometer, when regularly measuring blood pressure, shows numbers above normal, then the cardiologist diagnoses "arterial hypertension" or "hypertension". Moreover, even an increase in just one 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 often problems with high blood pressure appear after 50 years.

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

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

In addition, 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 appear immediately. Early warning signs are often ignored and unpleasant symptoms are attributed to overwork or a slight cold.

Symptoms of high blood pressure may appear periodically, but some appear 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 of the spots before the eyes, blurred vision;
• change in emotional state, development of anxiety, nervousness for the most trivial reasons;
• rapid pulse, periodic chest pain;
• increased sweating, chills;
• feeling of lack of air, inability to breathe deeply;
• periodic nosebleeds.

Symptoms of high blood pressure can appear individually or in combination, but even one of the alarming signs of the disease is a sufficient reason to consult a doctor.

Important!Taking analgesics for a typical high blood pressure headache can temporarily relieve the symptoms of hypertension, but pain relievers do not eliminate the root cause. Long-term attempts to relieve the condition with pills can worsen 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 factors

Since the causes of hypertension have not yet been fully clarified, it is more correct to talk about predisposing conditions for a constant increase in blood pressure. The main ones:

• Floor.In men, hypertension develops more often at the age of 40-50 years, 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 have hypertension, the risk of developing the disease increases significantly.
• High levels of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.Atherosclerotic plaques in the walls of blood vessels are one of the main reasons for the gradual increase in blood pressure with age.
• A sedentary lifestyle, long work at the computer without breaks for walks in the fresh air.Physical inactivity prevents sufficient oxygen from entering the blood and slows blood circulation. The blockage negatively affects the tone of blood vessels, the walls of which gradually lose elasticity.
• Overweight and obesity.People with a high body mass index almost always have high blood pressure. This is due to the fact that heavy weight requires an increase in the amount of blood in circulation, which significantly increases the load on the heart. In addition, excess weight is usually caused by poor nutrition, which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and impairs blood flow.
• A diet with an excess of salty and fatty foods.Salt retains fluids in the body and causes swelling. Excessive salt consumption is associated with an accelerated 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 medicines, especially those containing caffeine or codeine.
• Smoking.Nicotine and tar entering the blood with tobacco smoke cause vasospasm and increased blood pressure.
• Alcohol abuse.Almost all people who drink alcohol frequently have been diagnosed with hypertension.

Secondary hypertension appears in diseases of various organs and systems:

• kidney diseases(stenosis of the renal artery) leads to a deterioration of blood supply to the kidneys 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 a persistent increase in blood pressure is determined after a complete comprehensive 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 the treatment of the underlying disease. Taking medications to lower blood pressure without a doctor's prescription will not give the desired effect.

What to do with high blood pressure

Given the high prevalence of arterial hypertension and the large number of risk factors for the appearance and development of the pathology, every person should have a device for measuring blood pressure. It is better to make daily blood pressure measurement a habit and do it twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

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

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

• Do a light massage on the head and neck area. Circular massage movements will increase blood flow and relieve vascular spasm.
• You can take a warm bath with sea salt. The temperature of the water should be monitored very carefully, it should not be significantly higher than the body temperature. A very hot shower can only make the condition worse.
• Mustard plasters placed on the back of the neck or in the ankle area will help expand the arteries and normalize blood flow.

If your blood pressure suddenly rises and you don't feel well, you should lie quietly in a dark room, without distraction from equipment.

Important!When your blood pressure rises, it is not recommended to get on your smartphone or laptop, watch TV or read. Excessive eye strain will lead to a further increase in blood pressure readings.

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

What to do before the doctor comes

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

• place 1 tablet of a vasodilating drug under the tongue until it is completely absorbed;
• lie on your back with a high pillow under your head;
• open the window, open the buttons on the clothes, provide a flow of fresh air;
• take a hot foot bath for 10-15 minutes;
• drink an alcohol solution of amine 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, describes hypertension more accurately. If at least one of the risk factors for the development of hypertension is present, it is necessary to start paying more attention to preventive measures as soon as possible:

• keep a blood pressure diary, where you record the tonometer readings, including the pulse, twice a day;
• eat properly, normalize weight and give up bad eating habits - overeating, consumption of excessively fatty foods, large amounts of sweet and salty foods;
• give up alcohol and smoking - alcoholic beverages, even in small doses, have an extremely negative effect on the condition of blood vessels;
• regularly devote time to physical activity and walks in the fresh air, and exercises in the gym are best done under the supervision of an experienced trainer;
• Avoid stress if possible - this will be helped by regular communication with friends and family, relaxing outside the home and normalizing relationships in the team and family.

A healthy lifestyle and careful attention to your health are the keys 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 setting.

Mandatory hospitalization is required for hypertensive crisis with high risk of stroke. In this condition, the patient should be under constant medical supervision until the dangerous symptoms disappear. In the future, the patient can switch to outpatient treatment, subject to strict adherence to 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 medicines

Modern pharmacology offers a wide variety of drugs for hypertension of different types. Most of them are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. Along with the positive aspects of this approach, there are also negative characteristics. Many people suffering from high blood pressure start taking medications randomly or on the advice of friends and relatives, which leads to a worsening of the condition.

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

• Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)- drugs that suppress the production of certain hormones in the body that narrow blood vessels;
• the Sartans- blockers of receptors that perceive hormones that affect vascular tone;
• calcium antagonists- expands blood vessels and reduces the resistance of their walls;
• dihydropyridinelong-acting and short-acting drugs selectively affect the state of blood vessels.

Among the drugs that lower blood pressure, diuretics, beta-blockers and a number of 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 strictly according to the regimen prescribed by the attending physician.

diets

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

Alcohol should be completely eliminated from the diet and 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 recommended to include in the diet as much as possible:

• sea fish, rich in healthy fatty amino acids;
• fresh seasonal fruits, 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 black rice, durum wheat pasta);
• whole grain porridge.

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

Folk remedies

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

The following will help lower blood pressure:

• garlic solution;
• a mixture of boiled beets with honey and lemon;
• oatmeal stew;
• grape infusion;
• clove decoction and some other tools.

Ready-made antihypertensive herbal mixtures can be bought in a pharmacy - this is much safer than buying them on the market.

What not to do if you have hypertension

Prohibitions and strict restrictions are mainly related to severe stages of hypertension. At the first symptoms of the disease, only alcohol and smoking are completely prohibited.

The development of the disease can be stopped by correcting the lifestyle and diet - giving up 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, cerebrovascular accident and myocardial infarction.

Other complications of hypertension include:

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

A timely visit to the doctor and careful compliance with all recommendations will help you avoid dangerous complications related to high blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

Continuous 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 fight it. The key to success is contacting a specialist at the first symptoms, a healthy lifestyle and trusting your doctor.