According to the World Health Organization, hypertension is one of the most common diseases. Hypertension occurs in one in three people and is characterized by high mortality rates in severe stages. Only a complex treatment combining medication and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be successful.
What is hypertension
What is hypertension is a chronic disease, a pathology of the cardiovascular system. It develops as a result of disruption of the work of the higher centers responsible for the functionality of blood vessels. Dangerous complications of hypertension and accompanied by internal diseases.
One of the main manifestations of the disease is arterial hypertension (blood pressure), which decreases only after taking special and powerful drugs.
Hypertension refers to a pressure of 140/90 mm Hg. and higher if confirmed by two medical examinations.
Hypertension is divided into several types:
- essential hypertension,
- Symptomatic high blood pressure,
- chronic hypertension,
- Vascular hypertension.
Symptomatic or secondary hypertension accounts for only 10% of all reported cases of the disease. Hypertensive syndrome - the second name of the disease - most often accompanies systemic lupus erythematosus, urolithiasis, anomaly and tumors of the kidneys, ischemia, toxicosis in late pregnancy, renal tuberculosis. Despite the fact that hypertension does not have its own signs and characteristics, it seriously aggravates the underlying disease.
Essential hypertension is an independent form of the disease.
Chronic hypertension is usually caused by excess calcium in the blood, infectious diseases (transformed into chronic diseases), diabetes mellitus and heredity. It is manifested by nervousness, forgetfulness, fatigue and weakness, frequent numbness of the arms and legs, speech disturbances, left ventricular hypertrophy and frequent pain in the region of the heart.
How does hypertension develop?
The mechanism of the development of hypertension is as follows: in response to a stressor, a violation occurs in the peripheral vessels of tone regulation. The result is a spasm of the arterioles and the formation of a dyscirculatory and dyskinetic syndrome. The secretion of neurohormones in the aldosterone system is significantly increased. This causes a delay in the vascular bed of sodium and water, which increases the volume of blood circulation and increases pressure. During the disease, the viscosity of the blood also increases, which leads to a decrease in the speed of the metabolic process in the tissues. The walls of the vessels increase in size, the gap between them narrows, which affects blood flow. A high level of peripheral resistance makes the disease irreversible. Due to increased permeability and impregnation of the walls of blood vessels with blood plasma, arteriosclerosis and elastofibrosis develop, which leads to serious changes in the tissues of certain organs.
Spontaneously, hypertension cannot occur in humans. Usually, hypertension is preceded by vegetative-vascular dystonia (VD), of which varicose veins are a frequent companion.
Varicose veins and hypertension are linked: the increased activity of the vascular walls in the SVD leads to a reduction in their diameter. The resistance of the vascular wall to blood flow increases, which increases blood pressure. Varicose veins are characterized by thickening of the vascular wall, the formation of pockets and constrictions inside, which interfere with the normal circulation of blood. Diseased veins can no longer cope with blood flow, which leads to the formation of edema in the tissues and chronic stagnation of the veins. This can turn into the development of gangrene, sepsis and even death.
Classification of diseases
Hypertensive disease differs in the causes of increased pressure, organ damage, blood pressure level and its course. The disease can be benign, or slowly progressive, or rapidly progressive - malignant. More important is the classification according to the level and stability of the pressure. To distinguish:
- normal GB (up to 129/85 mm Hg),
- edging (up to 140/90 mm Hg),
- 1st degree hypertension (up to 160/100 mm Hg),
- 2 degrees (up to 180/110 mm Hg),
- 3 degrees (more than 180/110 mm Hg).
Mild hypertension has three stages. The first or light is characterized by an increase in pressure up to 180-104 mm Hg, but after a short rest it returns to normal. Some people complain of headaches, trouble sleeping, fatigue and reduced performance. However, in most cases, the mild stage proceeds without pronounced individual symptoms.
The second or intermediate stage is characterized by a pressure of up to 200-115 mm Hg. at rest. It is accompanied by sharp, stabbing pains in the head, dizziness, pain in the region of the heart. During the examination, heart lesions are detected. Sometimes subendocardial ischemia is detected. Strokes, transient ischemia of the brain are possible.
The third stage or severe stage is accompanied by stable and strong increases in pressure. At the beginning of the phase, the increase in pressure is intermittent and usually manifests itself after physical exertion, as well as changes in atmospheric pressure, emotional upheavals. Normalization is possible after myocardial infarction or stroke. After a heart attack, headless hypertension often occurs. That is, a state in which only the systolic or pulse pressure decreases.
Reasons for the development of the disease
The causes of hypertension lie in the violation of the regulatory activity of the main parts of the central nervous system, which control the work of all internal organs. Frequent overwork and overwork, both physical and mental, long-term, constant and strong disorders, stress can lead to development.
Working at night, often being in a noisy environment can also trigger the disease.
The risk group includes lovers of salty foods. The salt causes the arteries to spasm and prevents the evacuation of liquid. Heredity plays an important role. The probability of occurrence of the disease increases if hypertension is present in two or more relatives.
Some diseases also provoke the development of hypertension. These include:
- Diseases of the adrenal glands and kidneys,
- thyroid disease,
- Obesity,
- diabetes diabetes,
- Tonsillitis,
- Atherosclerosis.
Among women in the group most at risk, those who are in menopause. This is due to hormonal changes in the body, emotional exacerbations, nervous reactions. It is during menopause that about 60% of all diseases in women occur.
In men, age and sex determine the increased risk. Hypertension at the age of 20 and 30 develops in about 9% of men. At 40, the percentage increases to 35, and after 65 - already 50%. Hypertension is more common in men under 40 than in women. In the older age group, the ratio changes - this is explained by a high percentage of male mortality from complications.
The causes of hypertension lie in hypodynamia and bad habits. The components of tobacco smoke cause blood vessels to spasm and damage the thin walls of the arteries. Physical inactivity is accompanied by a sluggish metabolism, and with an increase in load, an untrained heart tires several times faster.
Symptoms
The clinic of hypertension in the initial stages can be mild. For a long time, a person may not even be aware of the increased pressure and developing processes in the vessels. The first and first signs of hypertension are irritability for no apparent reason and increased fatigue.
Symptoms of hypertension in the early stages: neurotic disorders, weakness, sleep disturbances, noise and ringing in the ears and dizziness, heart palpitations.
People notice a drop in efficiency, a loss of concentration. There is shortness of breath. Headaches with hypertension appear more often in the morning in the temporal and occipital region. At the end of the day and while lying down may increase. They are associated with a violation of the tone of venules and arterioles. Symptoms of hypertension include pain in the region of the heart. This is due to the increased work of the heart muscle to overcome the increasing resistance. As a result, a dissociation occurs between the needs and the capacities of the myocardium, which leads to angina pectoris.
Signs of hypertension at a later date are veiling and flickering of "flies" before the eyes, as well as other photopsias. They are explained by spasms of the arterioles of the retina. Malignant hypertension can be accompanied by retinal hemorrhages, which lead to blindness. In rare cases, symptoms of hypertension are manifested by vomiting, swelling of the hands and numbness of the fingers, chills, in the morning - heaviness of the eyelids and swelling of the face, excessive sweating.
Complications during hypertension
Complications of hypertension:
- hypertensive crisis,
- visual impairment,
- Circulatory disorders in the brain
- nephrosclerosis,
- subarachnoid hemorrhage,
- dissecting aortic aneurysm,
- bradycadia,
- Damage to target organs (kidneys, heart, brain, veins and arteries, fundus vessels),
- Hypertensive cardiomyopathy (HLH, left ventricular hypertension)
- Hypertonic type angiodystonia.
hypertensive crisis
First you need to understand what a hypertensive crisis is. This term refers to an acute and significant rise in blood pressure, which is accompanied by symptoms characteristic of the disease. In addition to hypertension, it can be caused by:
- Chronic and acute glomerulonephritis,
- Toxicosis at the end of pregnancy,
- renovascular hypertension,
- benign brain tumors,
- heavy metal poisoning,
- Renal failure.
Seizures can be caused by hormonal imbalance and sudden changes in the weather. One of the most common causes is trauma of a psycho-emotional nature. Symptoms: severe severe headache, nausea with vomiting, dizziness, fainting, short-term blindness and other visual disturbances, weakness, mood swings, watery eyes. Brain symptoms:
- vasospasm,
- Violation of the permeability of the vascular walls,
- Entry of blood plasma into the marrow, which leads to edema.
In the early stages of the disease, attacks are mild and short-lived.
The danger of a crisis in possible development:
- retinal detachment,
- caress,
- Acute pulmonary edema
- cardiac asthma,
- myocardial infarction,
- Angina.
Complications of hypertension pose a serious threat to human life and require regular monitoring by a doctor.
Bradycadia
A common and dangerous complication of hypertension. It manifests according to form. The mild form may go unnoticed. Severe, frequent and prolonged dizziness with hypertension may indicate a pronounced form of the disease. Also, symptoms include - a state of semi-fainting and frequent fainting, sudden changes in pressure. The severe form is accompanied by fainting and short-term cardiac arrest. Treatment of bradycardia with hypertension can be done with homeopathic and medicinal remedies. Usually prescribed diuretics, alpha-blockers, nifedicipin. From homeopathy, calendula, St. John's wort, strawberries, shakers are prescribed.
Complications include the following syndromes in hypertension:
- myocardial injury,
- kidney damage,
- vascular encephalopathy,
- High blood pressure syndrome.
Associated clinical conditions: ischemic stroke, CHF, coronary revascularization, renal failure, arteriopathy, papilledema.
Target organ damage
A heart
Most often, left ventricular hypertrophy develops. This happens because the heart muscle has to push blood through the deformed vessels with great effort. Such work leads to thickening of the muscle wall and lack of blood circulation. This is dangerous with muscle tension and heart fatigue. Another pathology is a violation of the diastolic function of lzh. The increasing fatigue of the heart muscle leads to a time when it cannot take a relaxed position. The thickened wall cannot relax during the diastolic phase, in which oxygen saturation normally occurs. All this leads to the third pathology - chronic insufficiency. It develops as a result of constant oxygen deprivation. It is very difficult to treat the disease, and in combination with other pathologies it leads to death.
Ships
Arterial vessels in hypertension are in a constant state of narrowing due to contraction of the muscle layer. This leads to the fact that the vessels cease to relax, and muscle tissue is replaced by connective tissue. This is called vascular remodeling. Vision loss, peripheral atherosclerosis of the extremities and other diseases are associated with this complex and irreversible consequence.
Brain
Hemorrhage causes nearly 25% of all strokes. And hypertension is the main cause of hemorrhages, which have a high percentage of deaths. Insufficient blood supply to the brain leads to ischemic stroke. This complication accounts for more than 70% of cases. It is caused by a narrowing of the cerebral arteries or a blockage of the channel by a thrombus. Another pathology is hypertensive encephalopathy. This is an emergency condition, accompanied by severe headaches, high blood pressure, neurological symptoms. If you have hypertension, there is a risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia. It is changes in the subcortical substance and brain atrophy, which are responsible for violations of thought processes.
kidneys
One of the most common complications is microalbuminuria. The first sign of kidney damage and the development of kidney failure. Chronic renal failure is characterized by the loss of the ability of the kidneys to remove metabolic products from the blood.
Diagnosis of the disease
Effective treatment of hypertension is possible only with early diagnosis and compliance with all rules and recommendations. High blood pressure is not always an indicator of hypertension, it can be situational. And with repeated visits to the doctor is not detected. A single pressure measurement may not reveal the disease: with recurrent symptoms, it is necessary to measure blood pressure dynamically. After making a diagnosis, doctors conduct differential diagnosis to determine the symptomatic form of the disease.
Pressure measurement
To determine the degree and presence of the disease, a dynamic pressure measurement is used. It goes as follows: the atmosphere should be comfortable and calm. Measurements begin no earlier than ten minutes after the start of patient admission. One hour before the visit, smoking, taking any food and strong drinks (tea, coffee, alcohol), any physical activity, the use of eye or nasal drops are excluded. During the first treatment, blood pressure measurements are taken from both hands of the patient, with a second measurement after 2 minutes.
With a reading difference of more than 5 mm Hg. continue measurements on the arm with high pressure.
Hypertension Treatment
The treatment of hypertension depends on the stage of the disease, complications, age and many other parameters. Medical treatment options are chosen by the attending physician. The desire to fight the disease alone can have disastrous consequences. Modern treatment of hypertension begins with non-drug methods that increase the effectiveness of drugs several times. You need to start by establishing a daily routine, eliminating all stress, not forgetting about exercise and long walks. An important point in how to treat hypertension is diet. The patient should refuse or significantly reduce salt intake, drink less, completely eliminate alcoholic beverages and coffee. If you follow all the recommendations, you can avoid drug treatment of the disease.
In the treatment, it is important not only to know how to treat hypertension, but also how to eliminate the causes of high blood pressure.
Usually drugs are used for treatment:
- diuretic,
- Inhibitors
- Type 2 receptor antagonists
- Calcium channel blockers.
Medicines for high blood pressure - by prescription only
homeopathic treatment
Considering the question of how to get rid of hypertension, it is worth paying attention to homeopathic remedies. They are generally recommended when the target organs are already affected. Homeopathy for hypertension has an important advantage: a mild effect. The drugs have no contraindications or side effects. The downside is that treatment with homeopathic remedies is rather slow. When choosing this method, consider:
- Homeopathic medicines are prescribed at the same time as medicines,
- Combine medication and healthy lifestyle
- With a medium degree of risk, this type is often the only one possible.
Hospital treatment of hypertension
Hospital treatment is generally accepted with a complicated hypertensive crisis:
- Acute hypertensive encephalopathy,
- cardiac asthma,
- pulmonary edema,
- Acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina and myocardial infarction),
- aortic aneurysm,
- Severe arterial bleeding
- Eclampsia.
Upon admission, doctors in the clinic begin to perform the main diagnostic actions:
- Measures blood pressure dynamics every 15 minutes,
- electrocardiography,
- General analysis of blood and urine,
- echocardiography,
- Biochemical analysis for the detection of potassium, sodium, urea, calcium, creatinine, fibrinogen, coagulogram,
- Ophthalmoscopy.
In addition, the patient should be prescribed an appointment with a neurologist, Reberg's test and rheoencephalography, as well as determining the type of cerebral hemodynamics. In the hospital, hospital treatment depends on the presence of complications, the severity of the attack and other diseases. First aid is aimed at reducing the activity of the left heart ventricle and eliminating symptoms such as:
- peripheral vasoconstriction,
- cerebral ischemia,
- Cardiac arrest.
The introduction of antihypertensive drugs, hospitalization in an intensive care unit and regular monitoring of blood pressure are of great importance in the treatment of a complicated crisis.
Non-drug treatment of a hypertensive state includes an increase in immunity, body cleansing, massage, gymnastics and diet. It is important to follow the instructions of doctors and not violate the established regime.
How to live with hypertension
How long people live with hypertension is an important question for those who have been diagnosed. The consequences of the disease depend on the stage and nature of its course. Severe form, vascular lesions, third stage of the disease and disruption of target organs worsen the prognosis. Premature death occurs as a result of heart attacks and strokes, acute heart failure. Unfavorable prognosis for those who fell ill at an early age.
The life expectancy of hypertensive patients depends not only on the correctness of taking medications and regular visits to the doctor, but also on the personal attitude and observance of the basic rules. These include:
- psychological climate,
- Diet,
- Physical exercise,
- No bad habits.
Another important condition is to understand what kind of disease it is, how it develops and what consequences it has on the whole body. In order to understand the characteristics of the course of the disease, it is not necessary to have a medical education. There are many good books and manuals written for ordinary people. One of them is "Propaedeutics of internal diseases" by A. Yakovlev. The book briefly and clearly describes the main provisions of hypertension, as well as the most popular treatment regimens for hypertension.
Psychological climate
Having figured out how to treat hypertension and choosing a treatment method, you need to move on to an equally important issue - a healthy lifestyle. It is impossible when working at night, frequent quarrels, constant long-distance business trips, strong emotional stress, negative emotions, fears, anger. All these conditions are accompanied by the production of adrenaline in large quantities, which leads to disruption of the circulatory and nervous systems. It is important to control your emotions, to think more positively and to exclude any source of stress from your environment. Herbal teas, meditations, walks, doing what you like will help you.
By creating the most comfortable conditions around you, a person increases his chances of recovery.
Diet
Overweight and hypertension are incompatible. Even if there are no extra pounds, treatment begins with nutritional correction. In the early stages, this is enough to control the pressure and prevent its increase. There are several ways to lose weight with hypertension. The main one is calorie restriction. This can be achieved by eliminating or reducing the daily diet of sweet and fatty foods, flour products. A diet to lose weight should not be confused with fasting: it is prohibited for hypertensive patients. To lose weight and normalize blood pressure, you also need to monitor the amount of animal fats in food. It is necessary to exclude foods high in cholesterol as much as possible, as well as switch to low-fat varieties of fish, fruits and vegetables, and natural vegetable oils. It is worth completely abandoning sausages, lard, fried meatballs and fatty meats, butter, fatty cheeses.
Contraindications for hypertension - all drinks and foods that excite the nervous system. These include not only tea, coffee and alcohol, but also carbonated drinks, hot spices, fragrant spices.
It is important to include foods rich in potassium and magnesium in your diet. These elements have a good effect on the heart muscle, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and the nervous system. A lot of potassium is found in:
- prunes,
- apricots,
- cabbage,
- pumpkin,
- Bananas.
Rich in magnesium:
- Buckwheat, oat and millet groats,
- Carrot,
- Beet,
- Cassis,
- Parsley and lettuce leaves
- Nut.
An important rule: these products should not be combined with milk. Calcium negatively affects the digestibility of elements.
Physical exercise
Complications of high blood pressure and the disease itself do not mean that the patient should give up all activity. Gymnastics, simple exercises, yoga or long walks, swimming are indicated for hypertensive patients. Movement not only carries a charge of positive emotions, but also helps to fight excess weight.
You should start with the simplest workouts, gradually increasing the duration and complexity of the exercises. This also applies to swimming and walking.
Rehabilitation for third-stage hypertension, as well as complications such as hypertensive stroke, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, should take place only under the supervision of doctors. Usually, for rehabilitation, patients are sent to special resorts, for sanatorium treatment. Which includes a full range of measures: good nutrition, physical activity, medication.