The increase in pressure above the age norm is rightly called arterial hypertension.
If the pressure increases frequently or for a long time, and during the examination it is not possible to identify the reason for this, then a diagnosis of hypertension is made. If a person has any illness that causes an increase in stress (e. g. , traumatic brain injury in the past, kidney disease, etc. ), then they are talking about secondary arterial hypertension. However, in everyday language, all cases of high blood pressure are often referred to as hypertension.
Hypertension is known as the "silent killer" because it doesn’t always have obvious symptoms, especially in the early stages. It has been established that 20-30% of the adult population has high blood pressure, although many are unaware of their disease for a long time. If hypertension is not treated, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases. The only way to know if there is a problem is
measure blood pressure regularly.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pressure on the walls of blood vessels and the heart. With hypertension, the blood pressure in the arteries and heart becomes too high, which leads to premature wear and tear 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 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 over 90", that means your systolic pressure is 140 mmHg. Art. , and diastolic pressure - 90 mm Hg. Art.
Optimal blood pressure in adults is considered to be less than 120/80 mm Hg. Art. However, figures up to 139/89 are included in the normal range. If, according to the results of some measurements, your pressure exceeds 140/90 inclusive, you have arterial hypertension, additional examination and, possibly, treatment is needed.
Symptoms of arterial hypertension (hypertension)
Increased blood pressure is not always accompanied by changes in well -being. The only way to know for sure if you have hypertension is to take 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. Blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy reduces the risk of complications. High blood pressure in pregnant women can cause preeclampsia. This is a dangerous condition where there is a problem with the placenta (the organ that provides blood circulation to the unborn child).
Sometimes the symptoms of high blood pressure are:
- Headache;
- dark or double vision;
- bleeding nose;
- difficulty breathing.
Such symptoms 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 right away if you experience any of these symptoms or high blood pressure. If symptoms are severe, call an ambulance.
Causes of hypertension (arterial hypertension)
In more than 90% of cases, the cause of high blood pressure cannot be determined. Then hypertension is called essential or primary. Factors that can increase your risk of getting primary hypertension include:
- age: the risk of developing hypertension increases with age;
- in your family there are cases of hypertension (the disease may be hereditary);
- excess salt in your diet;
- lack of exercise;
- perfection;
- smoking;
- alcohol abuse;
- pressure.
Known Causes of Hypertension
About 10% of cases of high blood pressure are the result of a specific disease or cause. These cases are referred to as secondary hypertension. Common reasons for increased stress in this case are:
- kidney disease;
- diabetes;
- narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys;
- hormonal disorders such as Cushing's syndrome (a condition in which the body produces too much steroid hormones);
- diseases that affect the connective tissues of the body, such as systemic lupus erythematosus;
- birth control pills (oral contraceptives);
- painkillers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- club drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamine crystals;
- some herbal remedies, herbal supplements.
Diagnosis of hypertension
To diagnose arterial hypertension and identify possible causes, first of all, they use systematic blood pressure measurements. This can be done by a healthcare professional or by yourself using a home stress monitor.
Healthy people aged 40 and over should have their blood pressure measured at least every five years. If you are at high risk of getting hypertension, you should check your blood pressure more often, preferably once a year.
Blood pressure checks are usually easy to do in most clinics and hospitals. Blood pressure is usually measured with a sphygmomanometer (manometer), a device consisting of a stethoscope, cuff, measuring device, air blower, and valve.
The cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated to block blood flow in the arteries. The cuff is then deflated slowly while listening to the pulse with a stethoscope. Listening to your pulse under a deflated cuff gives you a reliable reading of your blood pressure. In addition, automatic (digital) blood pressure monitors are now common, which measure pressure and pulse using electrical sensors.
Before you start measuring your blood pressure, you need to rest for at least five minutes and empty your bladder. To get an accurate blood pressure reading, you need to sit and not talk during the procedure.
If one of the measurements shows high blood pressure, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have hypertension. During the day, blood pressure levels can fluctuate. Stress can increase during doctor’s appointments due to anxiety and stress. In this case, it is recommended to measure the pressure during the day itself, using a home tonometer. By eliminating the "white coat fear", you can get a more objective clue.
You may also have blood and urine tests to check for diseases that increase your risk of high blood pressure, such as kidney disease.
Interpret tonometer readings
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and recorded in two ranges:
- systolic pressure - blood pressure when your heart contracts and pushes blood into arteries;
- diastolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes between two contractions.
For example, if your systolic blood pressure is 140 mm Hg. Art. , and diastolic blood pressure is 90 mm Hg. Art. , then they say that your pressure is 140 versus 90.
Ideally, blood pressure should be less than 120/80. However, readings below 140/90 are usually 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 pressure reading exceeds 140/90 for several days, you have arterial hypertension and further examination is needed.
Treatment of high blood pressure
Effective actions to lower blood pressure levels include lifestyle changes and medications. The choice of treatment regimen will depend on your blood pressure level and your risk of getting cardiovascular disease.
If your blood pressure is slightly above 130/80 mm Hg. Art. , and at the same time your risk of getting cardiovascular disease is low, so you should be able to lower stress just by making certain changes in your lifestyle.
If your blood pressure is moderately high (140/90 mmHg or higher) and you are at risk for heart disease in the next 10 years, treatment will include medications and lifestyle changes.
If your blood pressure is very high (180/110 mmHg or higher), you will need treatment soon, possibly with additional tests, depending on your health condition.
Lifestyle in hypertension
Below are some changes you can make to your lifestyle to lower your blood pressure. Some of them will lead to a rapid improvement within a few weeks, others will take effect over a longer period of time.
- Reduce your salt intake to less than 6 grams a day.
- Eat a healthy, low-fat, balanced diet, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Stay active: Staying physically active is one of the main things you need to do to prevent or control hypertension.
- Reduce your alcohol intake.
- Stop smoking. Smoking greatly increases your chances of getting lung and heart disease.
- Lose weight.
- Cut down on coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages such as cola. Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can increase your blood pressure.
- Try relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and stress management (autogenic training).
The more healthy habits you practice, the greater the positive effects. In practice, some people find that by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, they do not have to take medication at all.
Drug treatment of hypertension
There are many different types of blood pressure medications available. 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 remains under control for several years, you may be able to stop drug treatment. Most high blood pressure medications can cause side effects, but this problem can be solved by changing the medication 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, fatigue or lethargy;
- rash on the skin.
Below are the most commonly used medications for high blood pressure.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.lowers blood pressure by relaxing the walls of blood vessels. The most common side effect is persistent tuberculosis. If side effects start to bother you, you may be advised to take medications such as angiotensin-2 receptor antagonists, which work in the same way as ACE inhibitors.
ACE inhibitors can cause unexpected side effects when taken with other medications, including over -the -counter medications. Before starting any additional medications, check with your doctor to find out if the combination will cause any negative side effects.
Calcium channel blockers(calcium antagonists) inhibit the entry of calcium into heart muscle tissue cells and blood vessels. This causes your arteries (large blood vessels) to dilate and lower your blood pressure.
Drinking grapefruit juice while taking some types of calcium channel blockers can increase the risk of side effects. For more information, you can discuss this issue with your doctor.
Diuretics(diuretic) works by removing excess fluid and salt from the body in the urine.
Beta blocker (beta blocker)acts by reducing the rate and force of heart contraction, thus lowering blood pressure. Beta blockers used to be a popular medication for high blood pressure, but nowadays they are usually used only when other medications are ineffective. This is because beta blockers are considered less effective than other types of high blood pressure medications.
Also, beta blockers can interfere with other medications, causing side effects. Check with your doctor before taking other medications in combination with beta blockers.
Do not stop taking beta-blockers suddenly without talking to your doctor. This can lead to serious side effects such as high blood pressure or angina.
Alpha blocker (alpha blocker)usually not recommended as a first choice for high blood pressure, unless other medications are ineffective. Alpha blockers work by loosening your blood vessels, greatly facilitating blood flow in them.
Common side effects of alpha blockers include:
- fainting on the first dose of the drug ("effect of the first dose");
- dizziness;
- Headache;
- swelling of the ankle;
- fatigue.
Complications of hypertension
High blood pressure puts extra pressure on your heart and blood vessels. If left untreated, hypertension increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease over time.
Cardiovascular disease in hypertension
Hypertension can cause a variety of heart and blood vessel and cardiovascular diseases (cardiovascular disease), including:
- stroke;
- myocardial infarction;
- embolism: occurs when blood clots or air bubbles block blood flow in a vessel;
- aneurysm: develops when the walls of a blood vessel stretch and can rupture at any time, causing internal bleeding.
Kidney disease and high blood pressure
Hypertension can also damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys and affect their function. These complications can cause symptoms such as:
- fatigue;
- swelling of the ankles, feet or hands (due to water retention in the body);
- difficulty breathing;
- the presence of blood in the urine;
- frequent urination, especially at night;
- itchy skin.
Kidney disease is treated with medications and dietary supplements. More serious cases require dialysis (a medical procedure in which the blood is artificially cleansed of toxic metabolic products in the body) or a kidney transplant.
Prevention of high blood pressure
Hypertension can be prevented by adopting a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol intake, and not smoking.
Smoking by itself does not cause high blood pressure, but it does increase the risk of heart attack and stroke significantly. Smoking, like high blood pressure, causes arteries to narrow. If you smoke when you have hypertension, your arteries will narrow more quickly and your risk of getting heart and lung disease in the future will increase significantly.
Power supply at high pressure
Reduce the amount of salt in your diet, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Salt increases blood pressure. The more salt you take, the higher your blood pressure. Aim to eat less than 6 grams of salt per day, which is about the same as one teaspoon.
Eating low-fat, high-fiber foods (such as whole grain rice, breads and pasta) and lots of fruits and vegetables has 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 80g of fruits and vegetables per day.
Drinking more than the legal limit on a regular basis will cause your blood pressure to rise over time. Men are not recommended to consume more than 2-4 servings of alcohol per day on a regular basis, and women-more than 2-3. By normal use is meant every day or most days of the week. 1 serving of alcohol roughly corresponds to a glass of vodka, half a glass of wine or half a beer.
Also, because alcohol is high in calories, frequent alcohol intake leads to weight gain, and, thus, to an increase in your blood pressure.
Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can cause high blood pressure. If you’re a hardcore fan of coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages (like Coca-Cola and some energy drinks), consider reducing them. It’s great when you drink tea and coffee as part of a balanced diet, but it’s important that such drinks aren’t your only source of fluids.
Weight loss and exercise for hypertension
Being overweight forces the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body, which usually results in an increase in your blood pressure. If you really need to lose weight, it is important to remember that losing even two to three pounds of weight will change your blood pressure readings significantly and improve your overall health.
An active lifestyle and regular exercise lead to lowering blood pressure by keeping the heart and blood vessels in good condition. Regular exercise also helps you lose weight, which also helps you lower your blood pressure.
An adult should spend at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) per week doing moderate-intensity outdoor exercise, such as cycling or brisk walking. When doing exercise, you should be guided by the fact that you should feel warm and slightly short of breath. For people who are full, to get to this country, it may be enough to walk a little up the hill. Physical activity can include many types of exercise, from sports to walking and gardening.
Relaxation exercises can lower blood pressure. They include:
- Stress management (autogenic training), meditation or yoga.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on the way you think and believe can affect your well -being and ability to cope. You can talk to your doctor about the possibility of you undergoing such psychotherapy.
- Biofeedback (a self -regulatory method used to help you consciously control your blood pressure): A small monitor shows your heart rate or blood pressure in real time. Referrals for biofeedback can be made by your doctor.
Which doctor should I call for hypertension?
If you have high blood pressure, find a good therapist who can understand the cause of the disease and prescribe treatment. If you have complaints of heart or chronic cardiovascular disease, choose a cardiologist.