High pressure

• disease:hypertension
• What's amazing:cardiovascular system, target organs (brain, kidney, other organs)
• Cause:nervous load, hormonal imbalance, vascular dystonia of various origins
• symptoms:headache, dizziness, weakness, spots before the eyes
• Complications:cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, kidney disease
• Doctor:cardiologist
• Treatment:conservative, lifestyle modification
• Prevention:diet, timely examination

Hypertension - what kind of disease is it?

Blood pressure is one of the main indicators of the stability 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 amount of blood is pushed into the vessels - it depends on the strength of the contraction of the heart muscle. Blood is then circulated throughout the body through vessels, supplying the cells with oxygen and nutrients.

Healthy blood vessel walls are elastic. They stretch easily when a large amount of blood is released during the contraction of the heart muscle and contract quickly when it relaxes.

The problem starts when the blood vessel walls lose their elasticity or if blood flow is blocked due to changes in the blood vessel walls (atherosclerotic plaques, loss of elasticity). Increased internal pressure on the vascular wall is called hypertension.

In addition, the increase in blood pressure is caused by too much blood released by the heart and too thick blood, which has difficulty moving through the 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.

Persistent high blood pressure is associated with a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. In addition to medical problems, 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. Even just a few decades ago, the age structure of patients was dominated by people over 60 years old.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is a variable value. During periods of increased physical activity, the heart works harder because 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. right. Art. The first number is called systolic pressure - this is the load on the walls of the blood vessels immediately after the heart valves open. This moment can be felt by placing your hand on the left side of your chest or feeling the pulse in your 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 resting period of the heart muscle, it is called diastolic.

If the tonometer, when regularly measuring blood pressure, shows a number above normal, then the cardiologist diagnoses "arterial hypertension" or "hypertension. "Moreover, even an increase of only one number indicates pathology.

Causes of high blood pressure

In most observations, blood pressure continues to rise with hypertension. This form of hypertension is called primary. Primary hypertension develops gradually, 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 on cardiovascular diseases often appear. However, the mechanism of the 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 the neural load that affects the brain structures that control stress.

In addition, a persistent increase in blood pressure can cause:

• Violation of vascular tone due to brain or spinal cord injury. 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 when taking oral contraceptives.

symptoms

Hypertension is a dangerous disease that does not manifest immediately. The first warning signs are often ignored, and unpleasant symptoms are associated with overwork or a mild flu.

Symptoms of high blood pressure may appear periodically, but some occur regularly. It is necessary to pay attention to the signs of hypertension in the early stages 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;
• flashing spots before the eyes, blurred vision;
• changes in emotional state, the development of anxiety, restlessness for the most insignificant reasons;
• rapid pulse, periodic pain in the chest;
• increased sweating, shivering;
• feeling of lack of air, inability to breathe deeply;
• periodic nosebleeds.

The symptoms of high blood pressure can appear individually or in combination, but one of the signs of worrisome fatigue is sufficient reason to consult a doctor.

Important!Taking analgesics for a typical headache with high blood pressure can temporarily relieve the symptoms of hypertension, but painkillers do not eliminate the underlying cause. Long-term attempts to alleviate 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 disturbances.

Risk factors

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

• The floor.In men, hypertension most often develops at the age of 40-50 years, they are more susceptible 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 pressure:difficult work that requires constant focus, family problems, difficulties in personal life, financial problems, etc.
• Genetic predisposition.If both parents or at least one of them has hypertension, the risk of getting the disease increases significantly.
• High levels of "bad" cholesterol in the blood. Atherosclerotic plaque on the walls of blood vessels is one of the main reasons for the gradual increase in blood pressure with age.
• Sedentary lifestyle, working long hours in front of the computer without a break for a walk in the fresh air.Physical inactivity prevents sufficient oxygen from entering the blood and slows blood circulation. Congestion negatively affects the tone of blood vessels, their walls 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 circulating blood, 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 affects blood flow.
• Diet with excess salty and fatty foods.Salt retains fluid in the body and causes swelling. Excessive salt consumption is associated with an increasingly fast pace of life, failure to maintain healthy eating habits and an unbalanced diet.
• Side effects 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 that enter the bloodstream with tobacco smoke cause vasoconstriction and an increase in blood pressure.
• Alcohol abuse.Almost all people who regularly drink alcohol are diagnosed with hypertension.

Secondary hypertension occurs in diseases of various organs and systems:

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

The cause of the persistent increase in blood pressure is established after a thorough comprehensive examination. Correct identification of the cause 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 medication to lower blood pressure without a doctor's prescription will not have the desired effect.

What to do with high blood pressure

Given the high prevalence of arterial hypertension and a large number of risk factors for the occurrence and development of pathology, everyone 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 - morning and evening.

If the tonometer reading is consistently above the norm, then a visit to the doctor should not be delayed.

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

• Give a light massage on the head and neck. Circular massage movements will increase blood flow and relieve vascular spasms.
• You can take a warm bath with a sea salt solution. Water temperature must be monitored very carefully; it should not be higher than body temperature. A shower that is too hot can only make the condition worse.
• A mustard plaster placed on the back of the neck or in the ankle area will help widen the arteries and normalize blood flow.

If your blood pressure suddenly rises and you feel unwell, you need to 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, watch TV or read. Excessive eye strain will lead to a further increase in blood pressure readings.

If the diagnosis of hypertension has been established, it is necessary to take all the drugs prescribed by the doctor strictly according to the prescribed regimen. You should not stop taking your medication 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 some simple ways to normalize the situation that can be used before the doctor arrives. This recommendation is important for anyone who has high blood pressure or lives with someone who is at high risk. Here's what you can do:

• place 1 tablet of vasodilator medicine under the tongue until it is completely absorbed;
• lie on your back with a high pillow under your head;
• open windows, unbutton clothes, give fresh air;
• hot foot bath for 10-15 minutes;
• drink an alcoholic solution of motherwort or valerian.

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

Preventive measures

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

• keep a blood pressure diary, in which you record tonometer readings, including pulse rate, twice a day;
• eat properly, normalize body weight and abandon bad eating habits - overeating, excessive fatty food intake, a large amount of sweet and salty food;
• quit alcohol and smoking - alcoholic beverages, even in small doses, have a very negative effect on the condition of blood vessels;
• regularly devote time to physical activity and walking in the fresh air, and exercise in the gym is 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 outdoors, and normalizing relationships in the team and family.

A healthy lifestyle and careful attention to your health is 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 setting.

Mandatory hospitalization is required for hypertensive crisis with a high risk of stroke. In this situation, the patient must be under constant medical supervision until the dangerous symptoms subside. In the future, patients can switch to outpatient treatment, subject to strict adherence to medical recommendations.

The treatment regimen for hypertension and the composition of complex therapy are 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 various types of hypertension. Most of them are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. Along with the positive aspects of this approach, there are also negative features. Many people suffering from high blood pressure start taking medicine randomly or on the advice of friends and relatives, which leads to worsening of the condition.

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

• angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)- drugs that block the production of certain hormones in the body that narrow 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-acting and short-acting drugs selectively affect the condition of blood vessels.

Among the medicines that lower blood pressure, diuretics, beta-blockers and some other groups of medicines also need attention.

Medicines for the treatment of hypertension are selected strictly individually based on the results of the examination. They should be taken strictly according to the regimen prescribed by the attending physician.

Diet

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

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

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

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

• marine fish, rich in healthy fatty amino acids;
• fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables (at least 5 a day), herbs;
• vegetable oils - olive, linseed, sunflower, corn, sesame;
• high-fiber foods (in addition to vegetables and fruits, this includes brown rice, 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 does not hurt, but throughout the day it is better to drink clean water or green tea.

People's recovery

Folk remedies are widely used to lower blood pressure and improve the general condition of the body, but they should only be taken after consulting a doctor. You need to 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 colored;
• a mixture of boiled beets with honey and lemon;
• oatmeal stew;
• infusion of viburnum;
• clove decoction and some other medicines.

Ready-made antihypertensive herbal mixtures can be bought in pharmacies - this is safer than buying them in the market.

What not to do if you have hypertension

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

The development of this 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, cerebrovascular accident and myocardial infarction.

Other complications of hypertension include:

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

Timely visits to the doctor and careful compliance with all recommendations will help you avoid dangerous complications associated with high blood pressure.

Conclusion

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