Recommend
Official site Cardione

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

An increase in pressure above the rate of age is correctly called hypertension.

If the pressure rises frequently or for a long time and during the examination it is not possible to identify the reasons for this, then the diagnosis of hypertension is made. If a person has any illness that has caused an increase in blood pressure (for example, a traumatic brain injury in the past, kidney disease, etc. ), then they are talking about secondary arterial hypertension. However, in conversation, all cases of high blood pressure are often called hypertension.

Hypertension is known as the "silent killer" because there are not always obvious symptoms, especially in the early stages. It has been proven that 20-30% of the adult population have high blood pressure, although many of them do not know about their illness for a long time. If hypertension is not treated, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases. The only way to find out if there is a problem isMeasurement of blood pressure with electronic tonometermeasure blood pressure regularly.

Blood pressure is the force with which blood presses against the walls of blood vessels and the heart. With hypertension, blood pressure in the arteries and heart becomes extremely high, which leads to premature consumption of these organs and increases the risk of other diseases, such as kidney or brain damage.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and recorded in two dimensions:

  • systolic pressure - blood pressure when your heart contracts and pushes blood into the arteries;
  • Diastolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes between two contractions.

For example, if your doctor says your blood pressure is "140 above 90", that means your systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg. Art. , And diastolic pressure - 90 mm Hg. Art.

The optimal blood pressure in an adult is considered to be less than 120/80 mm Hg. Art. However, figures up to 139/89 inclusive remain within the normal range. If, according to the results of some measurements, your blood pressure exceeds 140/90 inclusive, you have hypertension, additional examination and, possibly, treatment is required.

Symptoms of high blood pressure (hypertension)

Increased blood pressure is not always associated with a change in well-being. The only way to know for sure if you have hypertension is to measure your blood pressure. Adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years.

If you are pregnant, it is important to check your blood pressure regularly, even if it is not high. Monitoring blood pressure during pregnancy reduces the risk of complications. High blood pressure in a pregnant woman can lead to preeclampsia. This is a dangerous condition in which there is a problem with the placenta (the organ that ensures blood circulation to the unborn baby).

Sometimes the symptoms of high blood pressure are:

  • headache;
  • darkening or double vision;
  • nosebleeds;
  • dyspnea.

Such signs appear in people with very high blood pressure. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to serious illness, including stroke and heart attack. Make an appointment with your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms or high blood pressure. If symptoms are severe, call an ambulance.

Causes of hypertension (hypertension)

In more than 90% of cases, the cause of high blood pressure can not be determined. Hypertension is then called essential or primary. Factors that may increase the risk of developing primary hypertension include:

  • age: the risk of developing hypertension increases with age;
  • there have been cases of hypertension in your family (the disease may be inherited);
  • excess salt in your diet;
  • lack of exercises;
  • completeness;
  • smoking;
  • alcohol abuse;
  • stress.

Known causes of hypertension

About 10% of cases of high blood pressure are the result of a specific disease or cause. These cases are called secondary hypertension. Typical reasons for the increase in pressure in this case are:

  • kidney disease;
  • diabetes;
  • narrowing of the arteries that supply the kidneys with blood;
  • hormonal disorders such as Cushing's syndrome (a condition in which the body produces too many steroid hormones);
  • diseases affecting the connective tissues of the body, such as systemic lupus erythematosus;
  • birth control pills (oral contraceptives);
  • pain relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
  • club drugs like cocaine, amphetamines and crystal methamphetamine;
  • some herbal medicines, herbal supplements.

Diagnosis of hypertension

To diagnose hypertension and identify its possible causes, first of all, they use systematic measurement of blood pressure. This can be done by a healthcare professional or yourself using a home pressure monitor.

Healthy people over the age of 40 should have their blood pressure measured at least every five years. If you are at increased risk for hypertension, you should check your blood pressure more often, ideally once a year.

Blood pressure checks are usually easy to perform in most clinics and hospitals. Blood pressure is usually measured with a sphygmomanometer (manometer), a device consisting of a stethoscope, cuff, measuring device, an air blower, and a valve.

The cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated to restrict blood flow to the artery. Then, the cuff is slowly emptied while the pulse is heard with the stethoscope. Listening to your pulse under the inflated cuff provides a reliable measurement of blood pressure. Moreover, automatic (digital) blood pressure monitors are now common, which measure blood pressure and pulse using electrical sensors.

Before you start measuring your blood pressure, you should rest for at least five minutes and empty your bladder. To get an accurate measurement of blood pressure, you should sit down and not talk during the procedure.

If one of the measurements showed high blood pressure, it does not necessarily mean that you have hypertension. During the day, blood pressure levels can fluctuate. Pressure may increase during the doctor appointment due to anxiety and stress. In these cases it is recommended to measure the pressure yourself during the day using a home tonometer. By eliminating the "fear of white dress", you can get more objective indicators.

You can also have blood and urine tests to check for diseases that increase the risk of high blood pressure, such as kidney disease.

Decoding tonometer readings

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and recorded at two levels:

  • systolic pressure - blood pressure when your heart contracts and pushes blood into the arteries;
  • Diastolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes between two contractions.

For example, if the systolic blood pressure is 140 mm Hg. Art. , and diastolic blood pressure is 90 mm Hg. Art. , then say your pressure is 140 over 90.

Ideally, blood pressure should be less than 120/80. However, readings below 140/90 are generally considered normal. If you have kidney disease, diabetes or heart or circulatory disease, your target blood pressure should be below 130/80 mmHg. Art.

If the blood pressure readings are above 140/90 for several days, you have high blood pressure and further examination is required.

Treatment of high blood pressure

Effective actions to lower blood pressure levels include lifestyle changes and medication. The choice of treatment regimen will depend on blood pressure levels and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

If blood pressure is slightly above 130/80 mm Hg. Art. , and at the same time your risk of developing cardiovascular disease is low, then you should be able to lower your blood pressure just by making some changes to your lifestyle.

If your blood pressure is moderately high (140/90 mmHg or higher) and you are at risk of developing heart disease within the next 10 years, treatment will include medication and lifestyle changes.

If your blood pressure is too high (180/110 mmHg or higher), you will need treatment soon, perhaps with additional tests, depending on your health condition.

Lifestyle in hypertension

Below are some of the changes you can make to your lifestyle to lower your blood pressure. Some of them will lead to rapid improvement within a few weeks, others will take effect for a longer period of time.

  • Reduce your salt intake to less than 6 grams per day.
  • Eat healthy, low-fat, balanced foods, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Stay active: Being physically active is one of the main things you need to do to prevent or control hypertension.
  • Reduce alcohol intake.
  • Quit smoking. Smoking greatly increases the chances of developing lung and heart disease.
  • Lose weight.
  • Drink less coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages like cola. Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can increase blood pressure.
  • Try relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation and stress management (autogenic training).

The more healthy habits you adopt, the greater the positive effect. In practice, some people find that by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, they do not need to take medication at all.

Drug treatment of hypertension

There is a wide variety of medications for high blood pressure. You may need to take more than one type of medication because sometimes a combination of medications is needed to treat hypertension.

In some cases, you will need to take blood pressure medication for the rest of your life. However, if your blood pressure stays under control for several years, you may be able to stop the medication. Most medications for high blood pressure can cause side effects, but this problem can be solved by changing the medications you are taking.

Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following common side effects:

  • feeling drowsy;
  • pain in the kidney area (in the lumbar region);
  • dry cough;
  • dizziness, exhaustion or lethargy;
  • redness on the skin.

Below are the most commonly used medications for high blood pressure.

  1. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.lowers blood pressure by relaxing the walls of blood vessels. The most common side effect is a persistent dry cough. If side effects start to bother you, you may be advised to take medications such as angiotensin-2 receptor antagonists, which act similarly to ACE inhibitors.

    ACE inhibitors can cause unexpected side effects when taken with other medicines, including over-the-counter medicines. Before starting any additional medication, check with your doctor to see if the combination will cause adverse side effects.

  2. Calcium channel blockers(calcium antagonists) prevent the entry of calcium into the cells of the muscle tissue of the heart and blood vessels. This causes your arteries (large blood vessels) to dilate and lower your blood pressure.

    Drinking grapefruit juice while taking certain types of calcium channel blockers may increase the risk of side effects. For more information, you can discuss this issue with your doctor.

  3. Diuretics(diuretics) work by removing excess fluid and salt from the body in the urine.

  4. Beta-blockers (beta-blockers)act by lowering the rhythm and strength of heart contractions, thus lowering blood pressure. Beta-blockers have been a popular remedy for high blood pressure, but nowadays they are usually only used when other medications do not work. This is because beta-blockers are considered less effective than other types of medications for high blood pressure.

    Also, beta-blockers can interfere with other drugs, causing side effects. Check with your doctor before taking other medicines in combination with beta-blockers.

    Do not stop taking beta-blockers suddenly without talking to your doctor. This can lead to serious side effects like high blood pressure or angina.

  5. Alpha blockers (alpha blockers)generally not recommended as the first choice for high blood pressure unless other medications work. Alpha blockers work by relaxing your blood vessels, greatly facilitating blood flow within them.

    Common side effects of alpha-blockers include:

    • fainting in the first dose of the drug ("first dose effect");
    • dizziness;
    • headache;
    • swelling of the ankles;
    • fatigue.

Complications of hypertension

High blood pressure causes additional stress on the heart and blood vessels. If left untreated, hypertension increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease over time.

Cardiovascular diseases in hypertension

Hypertension can cause many different diseases of the heart and blood vessels and cardiovascular disease (cardiovascular disease), including:

  • stroke;
  • myocardial infarction;
  • embolism: occurs when a blood clot or air bubble blocks blood flow to a vessel;
  • aneurysm: develops when the wall of a blood vessel stretches and can rupture at any moment, causing internal bleeding.

Kidney disease and high blood pressure

Hypertension can also damage small blood vessels in the kidneys and impair their function. This complication can cause symptoms such as:

  • fatigue;
  • swelling of the joints, feet or hands (due to water retention in the body);
  • dyspnea;
  • the presence of blood in the urine;
  • frequent urination, especially at night;
  • itching of the skin.

Kidney disease is treated with medication and nutritional supplements. More serious cases require dialysis (a medical procedure in which the blood is artificially cleared of toxic metabolic products in the body) or a kidney transplant.

Prevention of high blood pressure

Hypertension can be prevented by eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol intake and not smoking.

Smoking in itself does not cause high blood pressure, but significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Smoking, like high blood pressure, causes narrowing of the arteries. If you smoke when you have hypertension, your arteries will narrow much faster and the risk of developing heart and lung disease in the future will increase significantly.

High pressure power supply

Reduce the amount of salt in your diet, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Salt raises blood pressure. The more salt you consume, the higher your blood pressure. Aim to eat less than 6 grams of salt a day, which is almost the same as a teaspoon.

Eating low-fat, high-fiber foods (like whole grain rice, breads, and pasta) and lots of fruits and vegetables have been shown to help lower blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber that keep your body healthy. Aim to eat five servings of 80 g of fruits and vegetables each day.

Regular drinking above the legal limit will cause blood pressure to rise over time. Men are not recommended to regularly consume more than 2-4 servings of alcohol per day, and women - more than 2-3. By regular use is meant any day or most days of the week. 1 serving of alcohol corresponds approximately to a glass of vodka, half a glass of wine or half a beer.

Also, since alcohol is high in calories, regular consumption of alcohol leads to weight gain and, accordingly, to an increase in blood pressure.

Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can lead to high blood pressure. If you are a big fan of coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages (such as Coca-Cola and some energy drinks), consider cutting it down. It is very good when you drink tea and coffee as part of a balanced diet, but it is important that such drinks are not your only source of fluids.

Weight and exercises for hypertension

Being overweight forces the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body, which usually results in an increase in blood pressure. If you really need to lose weight, it is important to remember that losing two to three pounds of weight will significantly change your blood pressure measurements and improve your overall health.

An active lifestyle and regular exercise lead to lowering blood pressure while keeping the heart and blood vessels in good condition. Regular exercise also helps you lose weight, which also helps lower your blood pressure.

An adult should spend at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) each week doing moderate-intensity outdoor exercise, such as cycling or brisk walking. When doing exercises, you should be guided by the fact that you should feel warm and slightly breathing. For a satiated person, to reach this state, it may be enough to walk a little up the hill. Physical activity can include a wide variety of exercises, from sports to walking and gardening.

Relaxing exercises can lower blood pressure. They include:

  • Stress management (autogenic exercise), meditation or yoga.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on how your thoughts and beliefs can affect your well-being and ability to cope with problems. You can discuss with your doctor the possibility of you undergoing such psychotherapy.
  • Biofeedback (a self-regulating method used to help you consciously control your blood pressure): A small monitor shows you your heart rate or blood pressure in real time. A referral for biofeedback can be made by your doctor.

Which doctor should I contact for hypertension?

If you have high blood pressure, find a good therapist who can understand the causes of the disease and prescribe treatment. If you have heart complaints or chronic cardiovascular disease, choose a cardiologist.