According to statistics, 30% of the adult population experiences periods of high blood pressure and it is almost always a sign of an independent pathology or the so-called primary hypertension. Our country ranks 49th in the world in terms of the number of patients with this disease.
Without treatment, complications of hypertension occur:
- myocardial infarction;
- stroke;
- acute heart failure;
- hypertensive crisis.
The cunning of the pathology is that in half of the cases patients do not even suspect that they have a dangerous disease, so they do not take any measures and hypertension begins to appear with unpleasant symptoms. Many countries have launched preventive programs aimed at combating the pathology. New safe medications are being developed to control blood pressure levels. At the same time, only 1/3 of patients with hypertension receive adequate therapy and take care of their health.
Doctors around the world believe that every home should have a device for measuring blood pressure, along with a thermometer. This is especially true for families where relatives have already suffered from cardiovascular diseases.
Causes of hypertension
Currently, the exact causes of hypertension have not been determined. The main risk factor is prolonged or severe psycho-emotional stress. Other causes of pathology include:
- excess body weight: with excess weight, each kilogram increases blood pressure by two mmHg;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- eating canned food, smoked meat, fatty foods, sharp cheese;
- excessive use of salt in cooking;
- frequent stress;
- smoking - harmful substances contained in cigarettes contribute to mechanical damage to the artery walls;
- busy work schedule;
- alcohol consumption;
- very tall or very short stature in men;
- physical and nervous fatigue;
- consumption of animal protein, which is not limited.
Risk factors also include hereditary predisposition. High blood pressure in first-degree relatives guarantees a high risk of developing the disease.
It is worth paying attention to age; after 35 years, men have an increased chance of getting this disease. In women, the pathology is associated with the onset of menopause.
Symptoms of hypertension
Often there are no signs of pathology, but sometimes the following symptoms can be observed:
- headache;
- fast or weak heartbeat;
- dizziness;
- swelling of the eyelids, legs and arms, swelling of the face;
- memory impairment;
- numbness of the fingers;
- facial flushing;
- chills;
- increased sweating;
- anxiety;
- internal tension;
- decreased performance;
- nervousness;
- the appearance of "muscles" before the eyes.
All these manifestations do not bother patients constantly, but occur only during a certain period of time. This is the secret of the disease, so if the above symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor for advice. If therapy is not started on time, then over time the disease will begin to progress and may lead to serious complications. Therefore, it is important to control your blood pressure. For this purpose, there are now many special tonometers, from conventional mechanical devices to fully automated models. Operation of the tonometer with a phonendoscope is more difficult; it is not always possible to distinguish the pulsing sounds, but after some training and practice, almost everyone can learn this.
Before measuring blood pressure, you should not drink tobacco, alcohol or coffee, it is advisable to spend a few minutes at rest. The measurement is carried out in a sitting position, the cuff should be fixed slightly above the elbow, where the pulse is best felt. Most often, aneroid devices (lever and inflatable) and automatic devices are used to determine the pressure. In ambulatory settings, devices are used that can monitor pressure changes throughout the day.
Each age has its own blood pressure standards:
- 16-20 years - pressure 100/70 - 120/80;
- up to forty years, the rate is 120/70 - 130/80;
- from forty to sixty - up to 135/85;
- After sixty years, normal blood pressure is considered to be up to 140/90.
In cases where the readings exceed the norm for several days in a row, this is a mandatory reason to visit a doctor, even if there are no other symptoms other than the data from the device. A competent doctor will give lifestyle recommendations for hypertension at an early stage, which will help to avoid complications.
Hypertension - classification
During the study of the disease, many different classifications have been developed with divisions: according to etiology, the appearance of the patient, the stability and level of pressure, the reasons for the increase, the nature of the progress. Some of them are still used by doctors today.
The first classification of hypertension divided it into red and pale. The patient's appearance played a decisive role in this division. With the pale variety, the patient had cold extremities and an unhealthy complexion, which is explained by vasospasm. With red hypertension, when the blood pressure rises, the patient's face, on the contrary, turns red and covered with spots.
In practice, one of the most important classifications is the division of the disease according to origin. There is a primary, or essential, form, which appears as an isolated pathology. At the same time, there are no diseases of other organs and systems.
The secondary form is a symptom of the pathology of the organs that participate in the regulation of vascular tone. These include the kidneys, endocrine and nervous systems.
There is no unified systematization of hypertension, but, as a rule, doctors use the classification that was recommended by the World Health Organization. It is characterized by the rate of pressure increase.
- Stage 1 hypertension is a mild form, characterized by pressure from 140/90 to 159/99 mmHg.
- Hypertension of the 2nd degree - moderate hypertension, the pressure rises to 79/109 mm Hg. Art. Sometimes doctors diagnose "stage 2 risk 2 hypertension", this means that there are one or two risk factors and the possibility of complications has arisen.
- Hypertension of the 3rd degree is characterized by a severe course, the pressure rises to 180/110 mm Hg. Art. and even above. If, after the examination, the doctor diagnosed "hypertension, stage 3, risk 4", then you should immediately start treatment and seek help in a hospital. In this case, the probability of complications increases to 30%.
Organs that are more sensitive to complications from hypertension are:
- brain – DEP, dementia, stroke, memory loss;
- kidneys - the development of chronic kidney failure;
- heart - heart failure, heart attack, coronary death;
- ship;
- the eyes.
Doctors classify the disease depending on the damage to the above organs. Stages of hypertension:
- Stage I - the functioning of the cardiovascular system is not impaired, patients usually do not complain about their condition.
- Phase II - enlargement of the left ventricle, blood pressure increases. Local narrowing of retinal vessels can be observed.
- Stage III - signs of organ damage appear: chronic renal failure, angina pectoris, hypertensive encephalopathy, disorders that can be detected by an ophthalmologist during fundus examination (swelling of the optic nerve, hemorrhage), aortic aneurysm.
During classification, options for increasing pressure are taken into account. In this case, the following forms are distinguished:
- diastolic - low pressure increases;
- systolic - only the upper indicators increase;
- systolic-diastolic;
- labile form - in this case, the pressure rises briefly and returns to normal without special medications.
There are several types of hypertension that do not fit into any of the classifications. These are refractory hypertension and hypertensive crises.
A hypertensive crisis is a condition in which blood pressure rises to critical levels. Because of this, the patient experiences dizziness, severe headaches, cerebral circulation is impaired and hyperthermia of the brain may occur.
Hypertension during pregnancy
In a healthy woman, blood pressure should remain within normal limits throughout pregnancy. However, starting from the 20th week, some patients may develop gestosis, which occurs due to vasospasm. The result is increased blood pressure, swelling and vomiting. In severe cases, high blood pressure threatens a stroke, this condition is dangerous for both the child and the woman.
Therefore, it is important for pregnant women to constantly monitor their blood pressure. If your blood pressure rises, you should inform your doctor about it, who will choose an adequate treatment for hypertension that is safe during this period.
If you notice similar symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the consequences.
Diagnosing
Depending on the degree and stage of hypertension, the treatment is selected. Before starting the therapy, the doctor will definitely prescribe diagnostic tests that should confirm the presence of the disease.
Laboratory tests include: general analysis of blood and urine, urine analysis according to Nechiporenko, biochemical analysis of blood and bacterial culture.
The mandatory diagnostic program includes:
- clinical examination;
- history taking;
- measuring body weight and waist circumference;
- blood pressure measurement in both arms;
- ECG and FCG;
- fundus examination.
Treatment of hypertension
Stage 1 hypertension, symptoms and treatment
Stage 1 hypertension is characterized by a periodic increase in pressure, which after some time returns to normal on its own. In this case, the patient may feel headache, dizziness, tinnitus, and "spots" may shine before the eyes. In the first stage of the disease, the doctor will show you how to treat hypertension without special medications. The patient should adjust his lifestyle, monitor his weight, stop drinking alcohol and smoking, exercise regularly, as well as review his diet and try to avoid stress and excessive physical exertion.
Treatment methods include: reflexology, massage, physiotherapy, herbal therapy.
Medicines are rarely prescribed, only in cases where other methods of therapy have proved ineffective and the disease moves to the next stage of development.
2 degree hypertension, symptoms and treatment
As a rule, the disease does not develop in a short period of time. Several years pass before hypertension progresses to stage 2. Symptoms of the pathology include:
- nausea;
- dizziness;
- headache;
- numbness in fingers and toes;
- fatigue;
- cardiopalmus.
When a continuous increase in blood pressure develops, the doctor prescribes special medications for the treatment of hypertension. They should be used continuously, regardless of tonometer readings. It is recommended to take diuretics, which help remove excess fluids from the body.
In some cases, a decision is made to prescribe ACE inhibitors, which affect the narrowing of blood vessels. They may increase the effects of diuretics by reducing the ability to produce aldosterone.
Drugs that reduce blood viscosity are used, as well as drugs that lower cholesterol levels.
A large selection of drugs makes it possible to choose an individual treatment for each patient. At the same time, do not forget about non-drug and auxiliary means. Combined therapy gives positive results.
Hypertension 3 degrees, symptoms and treatment
A doctor can diagnose stage 3 hypertension when there is target organ damage. Since today blood pressure levels can be successfully regulated with medication, less attention is paid to the magnitude of blood pressure readings.
The reason for the development of this degree of the disease, in most cases, is the delayed access to the doctor and the lack of adequate treatment. Modern diagnostic capabilities make it possible to detect even the smallest changes in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Often patients themselves neglect the opportunity to visit a specialist. Taking medications (pills) for hypertension at certain stages of the disease helps to reach the level of the physiological norm, not limited to "working blood pressure". This allows patients to avoid the third stage of the disease and significantly improve their quality of life.
Signs of organ damage are added to the symptoms of the disease. Most often, damage to blood vessels and structures of the central nervous system is diagnosed in the brain. The risk of myocardial infarction and the development of hemodynamic instability increases significantly. Kidneys suffer, problems related to damage to the retina appear.
It is important to understand that when organs are damaged, a vicious circle occurs. New diseases worsen the course of hypertension; it is difficult to handle.
As in other cases, the treatment should consist of several stages. These are physical activities and recreational activities with dose. Patients must maintain a work and rest schedule, adopt a healthy diet and do not forget about drug therapy.
Treatment of hypertension in the elderly
The elderly who suffer from this disease constitute a special group of patients who require a special approach to treatment. Medication reduction of blood pressure in the elderly has its own characteristics.
Standard therapy is not always suitable for patients over 60 years of age, but this is not a reason to abandon treatment. Here it is important to individually choose effective drugs and adapt to a positive result.
In the case where the elderly do not have complications, it is recommended to start treatment with a thiazide diuretic. Their effectiveness increases with the patient's age, so after 55 years these medications are much more effective than at an earlier age. It is important to remember that diuretics are prescribed in small doses, as their increase can cause an increase in cholesterol. If a patient has low potassium or sodium levels, potassium-sparing agents are recommended.
If the patient, for objective reasons, cannot take diuretics, then beta-blockers become the drugs of choice.
In the form of hypertension with low renin, calcium antagonists are prescribed to support cerebral and renal blood flow. Also, these drugs are effective remedies for angina pectoris and can reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers and ACE inhibitors are not as effective as the above drugs, but they can be used when other drugs do not give the desired effect. Strong drugs are rarely prescribed because they cause drowsiness, depression and low blood pressure even when standing.
Combination drugs for the treatment of hypertension have been proven to lower blood pressure more effectively than a single drug at an increased dose. Therefore, in modern medicine, drug combinations are prescribed:
- diuretics and calcium antagonists;
- beta blocker with diuretic;
- ACE inhibitor with calcium antagonist;
- ACE inhibitor diuretic.
When a hypertensive crisis occurs, the patient needs rehabilitation. Usually this problem is solved in a sanatorium. The following measures are recommended for patients:
- physiotherapy;
- dietary nutrition;
- medicinal baths;
- hardware physiotherapy;
- phytotherapy;
- aromatherapy;
- oxygen cocktails;
- drug treatment courses.
As maintenance therapy, patients are recommended to use electrosleep, laser therapy and electrophoresis. Thanks to the electrical impulses, the blood pressure decreases and the kidneys and heart become healthier.
With the help of sulphide and carbon dioxide baths, the functioning of the immune system improves and blood pressure normalizes. The choice of procedures is determined by the age of the patient and the stage of the disease.
Folk remedies in treatment
Hypertension treatment should be comprehensive; along with traditional dosage forms, you can use traditional medicine, which contains many effective recipes.
- Red clover stew. The plant is drunk in the same way as ordinary tea, then half a glass is consumed at night. It is recommended to use only fresh decoction, but you can store the medicine in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Honey and garlic. You need to take half a glass of honey, grind five cloves of garlic and grate a lemon along with the skin. Mix everything well and put it in a dark place for a week, after which the composition should be stored in the refrigerator, in a closed jar (you can wrap it with a cloth or foil). Take a teaspoon three times a day.
- Vegetable juices. Mix a glass of carrot, black radish and beetroot juice with a glass of honey and the juice of one lemon. Take one tablespoon three times a day before meals. The duration of the course is one and a half months.
- Rose infusion can be drunk without restrictions.
- The seeds. Pour the well-washed and unshelled sunflower seeds into the pan. Pour one and a half liters of cold water and boil for about two hours on low heat. The juice should be strained, then drink a glass throughout the day.
- Golden mustache. Finely chop the dark purple knee and pour 0. 5 liters of vodka into it. Leave for twelve days in a dark place, gently shaking the contents every three days. Take a dessert spoon half an hour before meals.
- Lemon Mix 1 glass of white onion juice and 1 glass of honey and add 50 grams of previously crushed lemon peel. Tightly close the container in which the infusion will be stored and put it in a dark place. Take the infusion one teaspoon after meals, two to three hours later. Or mix a tablespoon of grated lemon 1: 1 with chopped blueberries, add half a spoonful of fresh rosehip (you can grind it through a meat grinder). Add the mixture to a glass of honey and take a tablespoon in the morning and in the evening.
- Dear. Mix five hundred grams of May honey with half a liter of vodka and heat until foam appears. In this case, the mixture must be stirred constantly. Let it cook. For the second composition, you need to create a pinch of the following herbs in a liter of water: chamomile, cudweed, valerian, knotweed, motherwort. Allow the liquid to simmer, then strain and mix with the first mixture. Put the tincture in a dark place for three days. In the first week, the composition is taken twice a day, one teaspoon, the next week, one tablespoon, until the boil is over. Treatment in this way is long-term, with breaks of 7-10 days.
Diet for hypertension
Proper and balanced nutrition for hypertension is the key to a successful fight against the disease. It is worth remembering that each additional kilogram increases the numbers on the tonometer. The main task is to achieve the optimal weight if it does not meet the standards. To normalize blood pressure, the following recommendations should be followed.
- Reduce your salt intake. Since sodium retains water in the body, the volume of circulating blood increases, which affects the increase in blood pressure. The amount of salt will be about 4 grams. Ideally, there is no need to add extra salt to food during cooking.
- To normalize the metabolism, you need to drink a sufficient amount of liquid, about 1. 5 liters per day. It is necessary to give preference to pure water, decoction of rose, as well as "healthy" soups.
- Eliminate coffee, strong tea and alcohol from your diet.
- Partial meals. It is important to distribute your diet in such a way that you eat even portions five to eight times a day.
- Reduce the amount of meat and animal fats you consume. Patients are advised to choose lean meat - turkey, beef, chicken, rabbit. It is good to cook without oil; if the meat seems soft, you can add herbs and lemon juice to replace the salt. You should include smoked meat, sausages and butter in your diet as rarely as possible.
- It is important to increase the amount of vegetables and foods rich in potassium and magnesium consumed: cereals, beets, carrots, dried apricots, cabbage.
- It is recommended to avoid eating confectionery products with a high amount of sugar; dried fruits, honey and whole grain products are preferred.
- Patients with hypertension should not fast. Strict fasting and diets are contraindicated.
Disability due to hypertension
Hypertension is a serious disease, and in some cases, patients are considered disabled. It is usually given to patients with the second or third stage of the disease or with continuous progression.
In case of stage 1 hypertension, the labor medical commission should help in employment, as increased stress, night work and work related to contact with dangerous substances should be avoided.
When determining disability, a special medical commission evaluates injuries, the presence of complications and a history of hypertensive crises. Sometimes, already in the second stage of hypertension, the third group can be diagnosed.
Disability of the second group can be received by patients with malignant diseases, in most cases it does not work.
In patients with hypertension of the 3rd degree, the first group of disability can be established in the case of:
- steady progression;
- severe heart failure;
- severe disorders in the functioning of organs;
- the patient cannot take care of himself and is limited in movement and communication.
Prevention of hypertension
Primary prevention should eliminate the risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of hypertension:
- maintenance of normal body weight;
- limiting the use of table salt;
- elimination of bad habits - smoking, alcohol;
- try to avoid physical and nervous stress;
- prevention of physical inactivity;
- treatment of chronic diseases.
Secondary prevention consists of choosing medications that stabilize blood pressure, as well as choosing a series of supportive measures.