High pressure

• Illness:hypertension
• What surprises:cardiovascular system, target organs (brain, kidneys, other organs)
• Reasons:nervous overload, hormonal imbalance, vascular dystonia of various origins
• Symptoms:headache, dizziness, weakness, spots before the eyes
• Complications:cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarction, kidney disease
• Doctor:cardiologist
• Treatment:conservative, lifestyle change
• Prevention:diet, timely examination

Hypertension - what disease is it?

Blood pressure is one of the main indicators of the stability of the functioning of the cardiovascular system. It is measured in millimeters of mercury and should not exceed 120/80 at rest.

To understand what hypertension is, you need to know what blood pressure is. At the moment of contraction of the heart, a certain volume of blood is pushed into the vessels - it depends on the force of contraction of the heart muscle. The blood is then distributed throughout the body through the vessels, supplying the cells with oxygen and nutrients.

The walls of healthy blood vessels are elastic. They stretch easily when large volumes of blood are released during contraction of the heart muscle and contract quickly when the heart muscle relaxes.

Problems begin when the walls of the blood vessels lose their elasticity or if blood flow is impeded due to changes in the walls of the blood vessels (atherosclerotic plaques, loss of elasticity). An increase in the internal pressure on the vessel walls is called hypertension.

Also, high blood pressure is caused by too much blood being pumped out of the heart and too thick blood that 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.

The danger of persistently high blood pressure is associated with a high risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. Apart from medical, 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. Although only a few decades ago, the age structure of patients was dominated by people over 60 years old.

What blood pressure is considered high?

Blood pressure is a variable value. During periods of increased physical activity, the heart works harder because the muscles need extra oxygen. And during sleep and rest, the amount of blood pumped by the heart decreases and the pressure decreases.

Normal blood pressure should not exceed 120/80 mm. rt. Art. The first number is called systolic pressure - this is the load on the walls of the blood vessels immediately after the opening of the heart valve. This moment can be felt by placing your hand on the left side of your chest or feeling the pulse on your wrist. The maximum pressure in the blood vessels occurs immediately after the heart beats, which is why it is also called cardiac or systolic.

The second number is the pressure in the interval between beats, that is, during the resting period of the heart muscle, it is called diastolic.

If the tonometer during regular blood pressure measurement shows numbers above the norm, then the cardiologist diagnoses "arterial hypertension" or "hypertension". In addition, even an increase of only one number indicates pathology.

Causes of high blood pressure

In the majority of observations, blood pressure is constantly elevated in hypertension. This form of hypertension is called primary. Primary hypertension develops gradually, most often problems with high blood pressure appear after the age of 50.

There are many reasons for frequent increases in blood pressure. In modern science and medicine, new data about cardiovascular diseases regularly appear. However, the mechanism of development of hypertension is still not fully understood.

The main theory of hypertension is neurogenic. It was developed by local scientists and is still considered one of the most reliable. According to him, the impetus for the appearance and development of pathology is nervous overload, which affects the brain structures that regulate pressure.

In addition, a constant increase in blood pressure can lead to:

• Violation of vascular tone due to brain or spinal cord injuries. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can also be a cause of high blood pressure - constant tension in the muscles of the back and neck causes blood vessels to spasm.
• Hormonal imbalance during pregnancy, menopause, menstruation or while taking oral contraceptives.

Symptoms

Hypertension is a dangerous disease that does not manifest itself immediately. The first warning signs are often ignored, and unpleasant symptoms are attributed to overwork or a slight cold.

Symptoms of high blood pressure can occur intermittently, but some occur regularly. It is necessary to pay attention to the signs of hypertension in the initial stage of the disease:

• occipital and temporal headache;
• constant weakness, reduced productivity, feeling tired even in the morning;
• dizziness accompanied by slight nausea;
• tinnitus, hearing problems;
• flickering of spots before the eyes, blurred vision;
• change in emotional state, development of anxiety, nervousness for the most insignificant reasons;
• rapid pulse, intermittent chest pain;
• increased sweating, chills;
• feeling of lack of air, inability to breathe deeply;
• periodic nosebleeds.

The symptoms of high blood pressure can appear individually or in combination, but even one of the alarming signs of illness is reason enough to consult a doctor.

important!Taking analgesics for a typical high blood pressure headache can temporarily relieve the symptoms of hypertension, but pain relievers do not eliminate the root cause. Long-term attempts to relieve 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 puffiness of the face, and memory impairment.

Risk factors

Since the causes of hypertension are not yet fully understood, it is more correct to speak of predisposing conditions for a permanent increase in blood pressure. The main ones:

• 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.
• Life under constant stress:difficult work that requires constant concentration, 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 developing the disease increases significantly.
• High levels of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.Atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels are one of the main causes of the gradual increase in blood pressure with age.
• Sedentary lifestyle, prolonged work at the computer without a break for walks in the fresh air.Lack of physical activity prevents sufficient oxygen from entering the blood and slows down circulation. Congestion negatively affects the tone of blood vessels, whose 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 high 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 improper nutrition, which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and disrupts blood flow.
• A diet with an excess of salty and fatty foods.Salt retains fluid in the body and causes swelling. Excessive salt consumption is associated with an accelerated pace of life, failure to observe healthy eating habits and an unbalanced diet.
• Side effect after taking certain medicines. People prone to hypertension are not recommended to use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, certain cough and headache medications, especially those containing caffeine or codeine.
• Smoking.Nicotine and tar, which enter the bloodstream with tobacco smoke, cause vasospasm and an increase in blood pressure.
• Alcohol abuse.Almost all people who frequently drink alcohol are diagnosed with hypertension.

Secondary hypertension occurs in diseases of various organs and systems:

• kidney diseases(stenosis of the renal artery) lead to deterioration of blood supply to the kidney and a compensatory "increase" in blood flow;
• endocrine system- blood pressure increases with tumors of the adrenal cortex, thyroid gland diseases and some other hormonal disorders;
• nervous system- encephalitis, brain tumors, etc.

The cause of a constant increase in blood pressure is established after a thorough comprehensive examination. The correct identification of the causes 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 drugs to lower blood pressure without a doctor's prescription will not give the desired effect.

What to do with high blood pressure

Considering the widespread prevalence of arterial hypertension and the large number of risk factors for the occurrence and development of pathology, every person 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 - in the morning and in the evening.

If the readings of the tonometer constantly exceed the norm, then the visit to the doctor cannot be postponed.

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

• Give a light massage to the head and neck area. Circular massage movements will increase blood flow and relieve vascular spasm.
• You can take a warm bath with a sea salt solution. The temperature of the water should be monitored very carefully, it should not significantly exceed body temperature. Too hot a bath can only worsen the condition.
• Mustard plasters placed on the back of the neck or in the ankle area will help expand the arteries and normalize blood flow.

If your blood pressure suddenly rises and you feel sick, you should lie quietly in a darkened room without distraction from gadgets.

important!When your blood pressure rises, it is not recommended to stay glued to your smartphone or laptop, watch TV or read. Excessive eye strain will further increase blood pressure readings.

If the diagnosis of hypertension has already 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 several simple ways to normalize the condition that can be used before the arrival of the doctor. These recommendations are important for anyone who suffers from high blood pressure or lives with people at increased risk. Here's what you can do:

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

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

Prevention measures

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

• keep a blood pressure diary, where you record the tonometer readings, including the pulse, twice a day;
• proper nutrition, normalization of weight and rejection of bad eating habits - overeating, consumption of excessively fatty foods, large amounts of sweet and salty foods;
• give up alcohol and smoking - alcoholic drinks, even in small doses, have an extremely negative effect on the state of blood vessels;
• regularly take time for physical activity and walks in the fresh air, and exercises in the gym are best done under the supervision of an experienced trainer;
• Avoid stress if possible - this will be helped by regular communication with friends and family, relaxation outside the home and normalization of relations in the team and family.

A healthy lifestyle and a careful attitude to your health are the keys 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.

In a hypertensive crisis with a high risk of stroke, mandatory hospitalization is required. In this condition, the patient should be under constant medical supervision until the dangerous symptoms subside. In the future, the patient can switch to outpatient treatment with 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 hypertension of various types. Most of them are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. Along with the positive aspects of this approach, there are also negative traits. Many people suffering from high blood pressure start taking medicines arbitrarily or on the advice of friends and relatives, which leads to worsening of the condition.

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

• angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)- drugs that suppress the production of certain hormones in the body that constrict blood vessels;
• sartans- blockers of receptors that perceive hormones that affect vascular tone;
• calcium antagonists- expand blood vessels and reduce the resistance of their walls;
• dihydropyridineslong-acting and short-acting drugs selectively affect the state of blood vessels.

Among the drugs that lower blood pressure, diuretics, beta-blockers and a number of other groups of drugs should be noted.

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

Diet

Proper balanced nutrition is an important factor in the prevention and treatment of hypertension. The diet for high blood pressure should be balanced.

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

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

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

• marine fish rich in healthy fatty amino acids;
• fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables (at least 5 per day), herbs;
• vegetable oils - olive, linseed, sunflower, corn, sesame;
• foods with a high fiber content (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 with coffee. A morning cup of freshly ground coffee will not hurt, but throughout the day it is better to drink plain clean water or green tea.

People's funds

Folk remedies are widely used to lower blood pressure and improve the general condition of the body, but they can be taken only after consulting a doctor. You should understand that any traditional medicine can only be a supplement to the main treatment and cannot replace it.

The following will help lower blood pressure:

• garlic tincture;
• a mixture of boiled beets with honey and lemon;
• oatmeal;
• infusion of viburnum;
• decoction of cloves and some other remedies.

You can buy ready-made antihypertensive herbal mixtures at the pharmacy - this is much safer than buying them on the market.

What not to do if you have hypertension

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

The development of the disease can be stopped by correcting the lifestyle and diet - giving up 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 hemorrhages, encephalopathy, etc.

A timely visit to the doctor and careful compliance with all recommendations will help you avoid dangerous complications related to high blood pressure.

Conclusion

Constant increase in blood pressure or hypertension is the most common pathology of the cardiovascular system in the world. Despite doubts about the causes of the disease, modern medicine has learned to successfully fight it. The key to success is contact with a specialist at the first symptoms, a healthy lifestyle and trust in the doctor.