Anyone with this diagnosis needs to know how blood pressure changes with hypertension. More and more people are suffering from this disease. As the disease gets younger and younger, everyone needs to understand the principles of living with hypertension: patients and their family members. What kind of pressure is life-threatening, how to behave during an attack, do heredity and lifestyle influence the development of the disease? Answering these questions will help avoid many unnecessary problems.
Pressure indicators for hypertension
The main cause of hypertension is the narrowing of the lumen of the walls of blood vessels due to their spasm. This process occurs for several reasons: heredity, bad habits, stress, sedentary lifestyle. The main method of diagnosing hypertension is measuring blood pressure. Since childhood, everyone knows the numbers "120 to 80". They have their own name and their own meaning. The first number is an indicator of the work of the heart muscle, called systolic blood pressure (SBP). The second indicator assesses blood pressure between heartbeats, called diastolic blood pressure.
Symptoms of increased blood pressure are palpitations, nausea, shooting pain in the back of the head, dizziness, increased sweating, pain in the heart area and insomnia.
Doctors have established a direct relationship between blood pressure indicators and the degree of illness of the patient:
- Less than 120/80 are optimal numbers;
- 120-129/80-84 - normal pressure. A diagnosis is made: prehypertension;
- 130-139/85-89 – high normal blood pressure. For hypertension;
- greater than or equal to 140/less than 90 – ISAH is diagnosed;
- 140-159/90-99 – grade 1 hypertension;
- 160-179/100-109 — 2nd degree;
- 3rd degree - more than 180/110.
The early stages of the disease are usually asymptomatic. The first signs of the disease appear easily and a person simply does not notice them, gradually getting used to the symptoms. High blood pressure continues to progress, changing blood vessels and increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke or kidney problems. If hypertension is a common diagnosis in the family, it is necessary to periodically monitor blood pressure parameters to stop the disease in its infancy.
How is the diagnosis made?
| Research steps | What is examined? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure measurement | Indicator measurements every 15 to 30 minutes for several days. | - |
| History | Detailed analysis of complaints and symptoms. | - |
| Physical examination | Measurement of temperature and blood pressure, palpation of the thyroid gland, skin examination. The condition of the arteries near the surface is assessed. | Symptoms of long-term illness: increase in heart size, presence of characteristic noises when listening through a phonendoscope, blurred vision, spots, swelling of the legs. |
| Instrumental methods | Blood and urine for general analysis | - |
| Blood biochemistry | Control sugar, uric acid, K, Na, cholesterol. | |
| ECG | Angina is detected. | |
| Fundus examination | Symptoms: narrowing of the arteries, microhemorrhages, dilation of veins. | |
| Ultrasound of the heart | On appointment. | |
| Pulmonary radiography | Heart muscle limits revealed |
How much pressure is already dangerous?
Dangerous blood pressure indicators for humans are above 140/90. Depending on the numbers on the tonometer and the degree of change, the patient's condition is stabilized in different ways. Stage 1, when functional changes occur, is characterized by insomnia, fatigue and headaches. Attacks are short-lived and unstable. After taking sedatives in combination with rest, blood pressure drops. At the 2nd stage, organic changes appear. To stop the attack, antihypertensive drugs are prescribed. Crises are possible. Kidney function is impaired and vision decreases. The attacks are persistent and long lasting. At the third stage, the indicators are never normal. Organic changes in internal organs and blood vessels can cause stroke, blindness, heart attack and heart failure.
What to do if you have high blood pressure?
How to stabilize blood pressure during an attack:
- Call an ambulance.
- Place one tablet under your tongue to speed up absorption of the medication.
- Breathe evenly and try not to get nervous.
- To dilate peripheral vessels, you can put mustard plasters on your legs.
As a result, the load on the main vessels is reduced and a feeling of relief appears. The attack should pass gradually, over 2-4 hours, because a sharp increase in "hypertension - arterial hypotension" has negative consequences, especially if the patient is elderly. An increase in blood pressure can cause panic attacks. Hypertensive patients often suffer from high blood pressure. Tablets help relieve an attack - you need to stop being nervous and follow the doctor's instructions. It is recommended to keep a sheet of paper with the order of actions during an attack in a visible place in order to do everything correctly. It helps to cope with panic and lower blood pressure on your own.
To avoid an attack, you must follow your doctor's recommendations.
Prevention
| General recommendations |
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