According to statistics, 30% of the adult population experiences a period of high blood pressure, and almost always it is a sign of independent pathology or the so-called primary hypertension. Our country ranks 49th in the world in terms of the number of patients suffering from this disease.
Without treatment, complications of hypertension occur:
- myocardial infarction;
- stroke;
- acute heart failure;
- hypertensive crisis.
The peculiarity of the pathology is that in half of the cases, patients do not suspect that they have a dangerous disease, so they do not take any action, and hypertension begins to manifest itself with unpleasant symptoms. Many countries have launched prevention programs aimed at combating the pathology. New safe drugs are being developed to control blood pressure levels. At the same time, only 1/3 of hypertensive patients take adequate therapy and take care of their health.
Doctors around the world believe that every home must have a device to measure blood pressure, along with a thermometer. This is especially true for families where relatives already have cardiovascular disease.
Causes of hypertension
Currently, the exact cause of hypertension has not been established. The main risk factor is prolonged or severe psycho-emotional stress. Other causes of pathology include:
- overweight: with excess body weight, each kilogram increases blood pressure by two mmHg;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- eat canned food, smoked meat, fatty food, sharp cheese;
- excessive use of salt in cooking;
- frequent stress;
- smoking - harmful substances contained in cigarettes contribute to mechanical damage to the arterial walls;
- busy work schedule;
- alcohol consumption;
- very tall or too short stature in men;
- physical and nervous exhaustion;
- the use of animal protein, which is not limited.
Risk factors also include hereditary predisposition. High blood pressure in a first degree relative guarantees a high risk of developing this disease.
It is worth paying attention to age; after 35 years, men have a higher chance of getting this disease. In women, pathology is associated with the onset of menopause.
Symptoms of hypertension
Usually there are no pathological signs, 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;
- finger numbness;
- facial redness;
- shivering;
- increased sweating;
- anxiety;
- internal tension;
- decreased performance;
- irritation;
- the appearance of "midges" before the eyes.
All these manifestations do not bother the patient continuously, but occur only for a certain period of time. This is a peculiarity of this disease, so if the above symptoms appear, you should see a doctor for advice. If therapy is not started in time, then over time the disease will begin to develop and can lead to serious complications. Therefore, it is important to control blood pressure. For this purpose, there are now many special tonometers, from conventional mechanical devices to fully automatic models. The operation of the tonometer with the phonendoscope is more difficult; it is not always possible to distinguish the sound of pulses, but after some training and practice, almost everyone can learn this.
Before measuring your blood pressure, you should not smoke, drink alcohol or coffee, it is advisable to spend a few minutes resting. The measurement is done in a sitting position, the cuff should be attached slightly above the elbow, where the pulse is best felt. Often, aneroids (lever and inflatable type) and automatic devices are used to determine pressure. In outpatient 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 norm is 120/70 - 130/80;
- from forty to sixty - up to 135/85;
- After sixty years, normal blood pressure is considered up to 140/90.
In cases where readings exceed the norm for several days in a row, this is a mandatory reason to visit a doctor, even if there are no symptoms other than the data from the device. A competent doctor will give recommendations on lifestyle for hypertension in the early stages, which will help avoid complications.
Hypertension - classification
During the study of the disease, many different classifications have been developed with divisions: according to etiology, appearance of the patient, stability and level of stress, reasons for improvement, nature of the course. Some of them are still used by doctors today.
The first classification of hypertension divides it into red and pale. The appearance of the patient plays a decisive role in this section. With the pale variant, the patient has cold feet and unhealthy skin, which is explained by vasocular spasm. With red hypertension, when the blood pressure rises, the patient's face, on the contrary, turns red and becomes covered with spots.
In practice, one of the most important classifications is the division of diseases by origin. There is a primary, or important, form that occurs as an isolated pathology. At the same time, there are no diseases of other organs and systems.
Secondary forms are pathological symptoms of organs that participate in controlling 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 recommended by the World Health Organization. It is characterized by an increased level of pressure.
- Stage 1 hypertension is a mild form, characterized by pressure from 140/90 to 159/99 mmHg.
- 2nd degree hypertension - moderate hypertension, pressure rises to 79/109 mm Hg. Art. Sometimes doctors diagnose "hypertension stage 2 risk 2", this means that there are one or two risk factors and possible complications have arisen.
- Hypertension of the 3rd degree is characterized by a severe course, the pressure rises to 180/110 mm Hg. Art. and even higher. If, after the examination, the doctor diagnoses "hypertension, level 3, risk 4, " then you need to immediately start treatment and get help in the hospital. In this case, the likelihood of complications increases to 30%.
The organs most susceptible to complications from hypertension are:
- brain - DEP, dementia, stroke, memory loss;
- kidney - the development of chronic kidney failure;
- heart - heart failure, heart attack, coronary death;
- ship;
- eyes
Doctors classify this disease depending on the damage to the above organs. Hypertension level:
- Stage I - the function of the cardiovascular system is not affected, patients usually do not complain about their condition.
- Stage II - enlargement of the left ventricle, increased blood pressure. Local narrowing of retinal vessels can be observed.
- Stage III - signs of organ damage appear: chronic kidney failure, angina pectoris, hypertensive encephalopathy, disorders that can be detected by an ophthalmologist when examining the fundus (swelling of the optic nerve, bleeding), aortic aneurysm.
When classifying, the option to increase pressure is taken into account. In this case, the following forms are distinguished:
- diastolic - lower pressure increase;
- systolic - only the upper indicator increases;
- systolic-diastolic;
- labile form - in this case, the pressure rises briefly and returns to normal without special medication.
There are several types of hypertension that do not fall under any classification. These are refractory hypertension and hypertensive crisis.
A hypertensive crisis is a condition in which blood pressure rises to a critical level. Due to this, the patient experiences dizziness, severe headache, impaired cerebral circulation, and brain hyperthermia 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 experience gestosis, which occurs due to vascular spasm. The result is increased blood pressure, swelling and nausea. In severe cases, high blood pressure threatens stroke; this situation is dangerous for both the child and the woman.
Therefore, it is important for pregnant women to regularly monitor their blood pressure. If the blood pressure increases, you must inform your doctor about this, 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 disease than to deal with its consequences.
Diagnostics
Depending on the level and stage of hypertension, treatment is selected. Before starting therapy, the doctor will definitely prescribe a diagnostic test that should confirm the presence of the disease.
Laboratory tests include: general blood and urine analysis, urine analysis according to Nechiporenko, biochemical blood tests and bacterial culture.
The mandatory diagnostic program includes:
- clinical examination;
- taking anamnesis;
- measure body weight and waist circumference;
- measure blood pressure 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 by itself. In this case, the patient may feel headache, dizziness, tinnitus, and "spots" may flash in front of the eyes. In the first stage of the disease, the doctor will tell you how to treat hypertension without special drugs. The patient needs to adjust his lifestyle, monitor his weight, stop drinking alcohol and smoking, exercise regularly, and also review his diet and try to avoid excessive stress and physical exercise.
Treatment aids include: reflexology, massage, physiotherapy, herbal therapy.
Medicines are rarely prescribed, only in cases where other methods of therapy have proven ineffective and the disease moves to the next stage of development.
Hypertension 2 degrees, symptoms and treatment
As a rule, this disease does not develop in a short time. Several years pass before hypertension progresses to stage 2. Pathological symptoms include:
- nausea;
- dizziness;
- Headache;
- numbness in fingers and toes;
- tiredness;
- cardiopalmus.
When a constant increase in blood pressure develops, the doctor prescribes special drugs to treat hypertension. They must be used continuously, regardless of the tonometer reading. It is recommended to take diuretics, which help remove excess fluid from the body.
In some cases, a decision is made to prescribe ACE inhibitors, which affect the narrowing of blood vessels. They can increase the effect of diuretics by reducing the ability to produce aldosterone.
Drugs that reduce blood viscosity, as well as drugs that reduce cholesterol levels, are used.
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-medicinal means and supplements. Combination therapy gives positive results.
Hypertension 3 degrees, symptoms and treatment
Doctors may diagnose stage 3 hypertension when there is target organ damage. Since today blood pressure levels can be successfully adjusted with medication, less attention is paid to the magnitude of blood pressure readings.
The reason for the development of this stage of the disease, in most cases, is late access to doctors and 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 ignore the opportunity to visit a specialist. Taking medicine (pills) for hypertension at a certain stage of the disease helps to reach the level of 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 the 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 is significantly increased. Kidneys suffer, problems related to damage to the retina appear.
It is important to understand that when an organ is damaged, a vicious circle occurs. Emerging diseases worsen the course of hypertension; it is difficult to treat.
As in other cases, treatment should consist of several stages. This is dosed physical activity and recreational activity. Patients need to maintain a schedule of work and rest, prescribe a healthy diet and do not forget about drug therapy.
Treatment of hypertension in the elderly
Elderly people suffering from this disease form a separate group of patients who need a special approach to treatment. The reduction of blood pressure medication 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 choose an effective drug individually and follow the positive results.
In cases where the elderly do not experience complications, it is recommended to start treatment with thiazide diuretics. Their effectiveness increases with the age of the patient, so after 55 years these drugs are much more effective than at an earlier age. It is important to remember that diuretics are prescribed in small doses, because increasing them can cause an increase in cholesterol. If the 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 drug of choice.
In the low-renin form of hypertension, calcium antagonists are prescribed to support cerebral and renal blood flow. Also, these drugs are effective drugs 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 provide the desired effect. Strong drugs are rarely given because they cause drowsiness, depression and low blood pressure even when standing.
Combination drugs for the treatment of hypertension have been shown to reduce blood pressure more effectively than single drugs at increased doses. Therefore, in modern medicine, a combination of drugs is prescribed:
- diuretics and calcium antagonists;
- beta blockers with diuretics;
- ACE inhibitors with calcium antagonists;
- ACE inhibitor diuretics.
When a hypertensive crisis occurs, the patient needs rehabilitation. Usually this problem is solved in a sanatorium. The following steps are recommended for patients:
- physiotherapy;
- nutritional nutrition;
- medicated bath;
- hardware physiotherapy;
- phytotherapy;
- aromatherapy;
- oxygen cocktail;
- drug treatment course.
As maintenance therapy, patients are recommended to use electrosleep, laser therapy, and electrophoresis. Thanks to electrical impulses, blood pressure drops and the kidneys and heart become healthier.
With the help of sulphide and carbon dioxide baths, the function of the immune system improves and blood pressure normalizes. The choice of procedure is determined by the age of the patient and the stage of the disease.
Folk remedies in treatment
Treatment of hypertension should be comprehensive; along with traditional dosage forms, you can use traditional medicine, which contains many effective recipes.
- Red clover stew. The plant is brewed in the same way as regular tea, then consumed half a glass at night. It is advisable 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, mash five cloves of garlic and grind one lemon with its peel. 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 in cloth or foil). Take one teaspoon three times a day.
- Vegetable juice. Mix one glass of carrot, black radish, and beet juice with one 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.
- Rosehip infusion can be drunk without restrictions.
- Seed. Pour well-washed, unpeeled sunflower seeds into the pan. Pour one and a half liters of cold water and boil for about two hours on low heat. The broth must be filtered, then drink one glass throughout the day.
- golden mustacheFinely chop the dark purple knee and pour 0. 5 liters of vodka. Leave for twelve days in a dark place, gently shaking the contents every three days. Take a dessert spoon half an hour before eating.
- Lemon Mix 1 glass of garlic juice and 1 glass of honey and add 50 grams of crushed lemon peel. Close the container in which the infusion will be stored tightly and put it in a dark place. Take an infusion of one teaspoon after a meal, two to three hours later. Or mix a spoonful of grated lemon 1: 1 with chopped cranberries, add half a spoonful of fresh rosehip (you can grind it through a meat grinder). Put the mixture in a glass of honey and take a spoon in the morning and evening.
- Dear. Mix five hundred grams of May honey with half a liter of vodka and heat until bubbles appear. In this case, the mixture must be constantly stirred. Let it brew. For the second composition, you need to brew a pinch of the following herbs in a liter of water: chamomile, cudweed, valerian, knotweed, motherwort. Let the broth brew, 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 spoon, until the boil is over. Treatment in this way is long-term, with a break of 7-10 days.
Diet for hypertension
A proper and balanced diet for hypertension is the key to successfully combating this disease. Keep in mind that every extra kilogram increases the number 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 must be followed.
- Reduce salt intake. Since sodium retains water in the body, the amount 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 while cooking.
- To normalize the metabolism, you need to drink a sufficient amount of liquid, about 1. 5 liters a day. It is necessary to give preference to clean water, rosehip decoction, as well as "healthy" soups.
- Eliminate coffee, strong tea and alcohol from your diet.
- Fractional food. 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 fat you eat. Patients are advised to choose lean meat - turkey, beef, chicken, rabbit. It is better to cook without oil; if the meat seems bland, you can add herbs and lemon juice to replace the salt. You should include smoked meats, 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; preference is given to dried fruits, honey, and whole grain products.
- Hypertensive patients should not fast. Fasting and strict diets are contraindicated.
Disability due to hypertension
Hypertension is a serious disease, and in some cases, the patient is considered disabled. It is usually given to patients with the second or third stage of the disease or with continuous progression.
In the case of hypertension at stage 1, the medical labor commission should help with work, because increased stress, night work and work related to contact with hazardous substances should be avoided.
When determining disability, a special medical commission evaluates the disability, the presence of complications, and the history of hypertensive crises. Sometimes, already in the second stage of hypertension, the third group can be diagnosed.
The second group of defects can be found in patients with malignant diseases; in most cases it doesn't work.
In patients with grade 3 hypertension, the first disability group can be established in the case of:
- steady development;
- severe heart failure;
- severe disturbances in organ function;
- the patient cannot take care of himself and is limited in movement and communication.
Prevention of hypertension
The main prevention should eliminate the risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of hypertension:
- maintain a normal weight;
- limit the use of table salt;
- elimination of bad habits - smoking, alcohol;
- try to avoid physical and nervous stress;
- prevention of physical inactivity;
- chronic disease treatment.
Secondary prevention consists of choosing drugs that stabilize blood pressure, as well as choosing a set of supportive measures.