What is hypertension (arterial hypertension) and what types are there? What is hypertension: symptoms and signs in men and women What is the origin of hypertension.

The date: 01.07.2020

Content

As a rule, pensioners suffer from high blood pressure (BP) or hypertension, although recently the ailment has begun to appear more and more among young people. At the same time, people are often unaware of a serious problem; many attribute headaches to inadequate sleep or bad weather. Lack of treatment for high blood pressure can lead to the development of stroke, heart attack. Therefore, for the timely detection of the disease, it is necessary to study in detail the main causes of hypertension.

What is hypertension

Arterial hypertension (AH), essential hypertension or hypertension is a serious chronic disease characterized by a persistent increase in blood pressure (while the systolic upper pressure is above 140 mm Hg, and the diastolic lower pressure is above 90 mm Hg). Hypertension is the most common disease of the cardiovascular system. An increase in blood pressure in the vessels occurs due to the narrowing of the arteries and their small branches - arterioles.

The value of blood pressure depends on peripheral resistance, vascular elasticity. When the receptors of the hypothalamus are irritated, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone hormones begin to be produced in greater quantities, which cause spasms of microvessels and arteries, thickening of their walls, and an increase in blood viscosity. This leads to the appearance of arterial hypertension, which eventually becomes irreversible and stable. There are two forms of high pressure:

Essential (primary). It accounts for 95% of cases of hypertension. The reason for the appearance of this form is a combination of different factors (heredity, poor ecology, excess weight).
Secondary. It accounts for 5% of cases of hypertension. High blood pressure in this form is caused by disorders in the body (kidney, liver, heart disease).

The initial stage of the disease or its latent course can be suspected if a person has:

memory impairment;
headache;
unmotivated feeling of anxiety;
chilliness;
hyperhidrosis (increased sweating);
small spots before the eyes;
numbness of the fingers;
hyperemia (redness) of the skin of the facial area;
heart palpitations;
irritability;
low efficiency;
swelling of the face in the morning.

Causes of hypertension

During normal functioning of the body, the heart drives blood through all vessels, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the cells. If the arteries lose their elasticity or become clogged, the heart begins to work harder, the tone of the vessels increases and their diameter narrows, which leads to high pressure. The onset of hypertension is caused by disorders of the autonomic and central nervous systems, which are closely associated with emotions. Therefore, when a person is nervous, his blood pressure often begins to rise.

After 60 years, the development of hypertension is associated with the onset of atherosclerosis (chronic arterial disease), when cholesterol plaques block normal blood flow. In this case, the patient's upper pressure can rise to 170 mm Hg. Art., and the lower remain less than 90 mm Hg. Art. Also, many doctors identify common causes of arterial hypertension:

circulatory disorders of all vital organs;
psycho-emotional overstrain;
spasm of the muscles of the cervical vertebrae;
genetic pathology;
decrease in elasticity, thickening of blood vessels;
hypokinesia (sedentary lifestyle);
hormonal changes;
diseases of internal organs (liver, kidneys).
excess salt intake;
bad habits.

In men

The appearance of hypertension, as a rule, affects men aged 35 to 50 years. High blood pressure is diagnosed in patients who already have a stable form of the disease. This is due to the fact that men ignore the first signs of the disease. Often the reasons for the appearance of high blood pressure in a strong half of humanity are provoked by their work. The disease affects those people whose activities are associated with severe physical and mental stress. Responsible employees suffer from the disease, for whom any mistake is always a great stress. Other causes of hypertension in men:

smoking, alcohol abuse;
sedentary lifestyle;
non-observance of food rules (fast food, sweets);
kidney disease (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis);
taking medications (remedies for colds, runny nose, sleeping pills or hormonal medications);
neglect of physical activity;
problems with blood vessels (atherosclerosis);
traumatization of the central nervous system (CNS).

Among women

Symptoms of arterial hypertension in women and men do not differ much (shortness of breath, headache, tinnitus, dizziness), but the weaker sex is much more likely to encounter such an ailment. The causes of hypertension in women may differ from those in men, and this is due to hormones. There are even forms of the disease that are not at all characteristic of the stronger sex - this is hypertension during menopause and during pregnancy.

As a rule, in women, hypertension is diagnosed during menopause (after 45 - 50 years). The body at this time undergoes significant changes: the amount of estrogen produced begins to decrease. In addition, the causes of hypertension in women can be as follows:

taking contraceptives;
stress, overload;
insufficient amount of potassium in the body;
hypodynamia (sedentary lifestyle);
overweight;
poor nutrition;
childbirth;
bad habits (alcoholism, tobacco smoking);
diabetes;
failure of cholesterol metabolism;
pathology of the kidneys, adrenal glands;
vascular disease;
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (respiratory arrest).

In young age

Hypertension is rarely seen in people under 25 years of age. Often, an increase in blood pressure at a young age is associated with neurocirculatory dystonia (a complex of disorders of the cardiovascular system), when only the indicators of upper pressure change. The cause of these disorders in children can be a heavy load during school hours. In almost all cases, high blood pressure in a child is a consequence of the pathology of the endocrine system, i.e. childhood hypertension is usually secondary. Developing arterial hypertension at a young age may have other causes:

hereditary factor;
overeating, eating a lot of salt;
weather;
diseases of the spinal column.
electromagnetic, sound radiation;
nervous strain;
kidney pathology;
taking medications that affect the state of blood pressure;
overweight;
lack of potassium in the body.
non-compliance with sleep patterns.

The reasons for the development of hypertension

The occurrence of hypertension in 90% of patients is associated with cardiovascular problems (atherosclerosis, heart disease, etc.). The remaining 10% are related to symptomatic hypertension, i.e. high blood pressure is a sign of another disease (inflammation of the kidneys, adrenal tumors, narrowing of the renal arteries), hormonal imbalance, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, stress. Risk factors for the development of hypertension are classified according to two indicators:

Immutable. Reasons that a person cannot influence. This includes:

Heredity. Arterial hypertension is considered a gene-transmitted disease. Therefore, if there were patients with hypertension in the family, it is likely that the next generation will develop the disease.
Physiological factor. Middle-aged men are more susceptible to the disease than the fairer sex. This is explained by the fact that in the period from 20 to 50 years, a woman's body produces more sex hormones that perform a protective function.

Modifiable. Factors that depend on the person, his lifestyle and decisions:
- passive lifestyle;
- excess weight;
- stress;
- bad habits;
- insomnia;
- consuming large amounts of caffeine, salt, cholesterol;
- taking medicines;
- lifting weights;
- fluctuating weather.

Heredity

One of the factors of predisposition to arterial hypertension is heredity. These can be anatomical features that are transmitted with genes. They are expressed in the obstruction of blood flow, which affects the increase in blood pressure. The presence of hypertension in first-line relatives (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, siblings) means a high probability of developing the disease. The risk of developing the disease increases if high blood pressure was observed in several relatives at once.

As a rule, not hypertension itself is genetically inherited, but only a predisposition to it, this is due to neuropsychic reactions and the characteristics of metabolism (carbohydrates, fats). Often, the realization of a tendency to pathology by inheritance is due to external influences: nutrition, living conditions, unfavorable climatic factors.

Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (heart disease, ischemia) can provoke high blood pressure. With these ailments, the lumens of the aorta are partially narrowed, which means that the pressure increases. Vascular defects in polyarthritis nodosa also contribute to an increase in blood pressure. Diabetes mellitus is another cause of arterial hypertension. The presence of atherosclerotic plaques narrows the lumen of blood vessels, which is an obstacle to normal blood circulation. The heart begins to work in an increased mode, creating increased pressure. Diseases that can provoke hypertension:

kidney inflammation;
pathology of the lymphatic system and liver;
cervical osteochondrosis;
disruption of the pancreas and thyroid gland;
arterial sclerosis;
vegetative-vascular dystonia;
adrenal tumor;
traumatic brain injury;
narrowing of the renal arteries.

Hormonal changes

Disorders of the endocrine organs (thyroid, hypothalamus, pancreas, adrenal glands) are common causes of high blood pressure. These pathological processes slow down the production of sex hormones and their effect on the cerebral lower appendage, especially for women during menopause. Serious causes of an increase in blood pressure, contributing to the excessive synthesis of hormones, are the following diseases:

Cushing's syndrome;
thyrotoxicosis (hyperthyroidism) - an increase in thyroid function;
neoplasms on the adrenal glands;
acromegaly (impaired function of the anterior pituitary gland);
pheochromocytoma (hormonal active tumor);
Cohn's syndrome.

Age

Hypertension tends to be more common in older people. This is due to the fact that over time, the arteries lose their elasticity, and this has a great effect on pressure. In addition, in people after 40 years of age, metabolic processes slow down, against the background of consuming a large amount of high-calorie food and the wrong attitude to food, obesity develops, and then hypertension.

Today, the cause of the onset of the disease, such as age, has undergone changes. The disease is noticeably younger, about 10% of adolescents are prone to pathology, and as they grow older, the percentage only increases. Every third inhabitant after 40 years suffers from high blood pressure. Indeed, in addition to the natural decline of the body's resistance, the influence of heredity, the way of life changes with age.

Lifestyle

Lack of physical activity is considered to be another cause of arterial hypertension. Sport has a beneficial effect on blood circulation and the body as a whole, but not many people dare to start leading an active lifestyle in order to protect themselves from the development of hypertension. Lack of exercise leads to obesity and overweight and, as a result, high blood pressure.

Hypokinesia is a common disease of our time, when a person does not move much, and this leads to disruption of the work of blood vessels. Unhealthy diet, bad habits, unhealthy lifestyle provoke high blood pressure, as the weakening of muscle tissue and the spine reduces the vascular tone necessary for good blood circulation. Working at a computer also increases the risk of getting sick.

Food

The next factor contributing to the appearance of high blood pressure is poor nutrition. Salty, sweet, fried, spicy, smoked, and fatty foods often cause an unplanned rise in blood pressure. After all, the kidneys need some time to remove excess sodium from the body. Until that moment, until this happens, excess salt retains water, which provokes edema in people suffering from essential hypertension.

A lack of potassium can raise blood pressure. This element helps the blood vessels to relax and the body to free itself from sodium. There is a lot of potassium in tomatoes, dairy products, cocoa, potatoes, legumes, parsley, prunes, melon, bananas, green vegetables, sunflower seeds. These foods should be included in your daily diet. It is necessary to give up lard, fatty meat and smoked meats, because they lead to excess weight and often accompanying high blood pressure. In addition, the following food products are harmful to the body:

butter;
canned food;
offal;
fat sour cream, cream;
hot seasonings;
flour products;
tonic drinks with caffeine;
sweet carbonated drinks.

Bad habits

A high dose of alcohol and the resulting hangover negatively affects your health. Regular and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can increase the heartbeat, dramatically increase blood pressure, and cause a heart attack. Smoking is also bad for blood pressure. Nicotine promotes an increase in heart rate, rapid deterioration of the heart, which leads to the development of coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis.

Tobacco and alcoholic beverages have a negative effect on the entire body. When smoking and drinking alcohol, there is first expansion, and then a sharp contraction of the vessels, as a result of which their spasm is created and blood flow worsens. Hence the increase in blood pressure. In addition, the chemicals in cigarettes can disrupt the elasticity of the vascular walls and form plaques that clog arteries.

Excess weight

A common cause of hypertension is obesity and overweight. Excess weight occurs due to a sedentary lifestyle, metabolic disorders, abundant intake of food high in fat, carbohydrates, and salt. Obese people are always at risk, because their high blood pressure increases along with the load on the blood vessels and the heart.

In addition, obesity raises blood cholesterol, which can trigger diabetes. Overweight patients are 3 times more likely to have hypertension than people with normal body weight. An obese person is more prone to atherosclerosis, which is an additional factor in the appearance of high blood pressure. Losing even 5 kg in weight will noticeably lower blood pressure and improve blood sugar levels.

Ecology

Many people react painfully to changing weather, i.e. they are weather dependent. Even a perfectly healthy person who is rarely outdoors and leads a sedentary lifestyle can be sensitive to changes in the weather. As a rule, meteocrisis in people suffering from hypertension appear in unusual climatic and landscape conditions, therefore, a travel first-aid kit should be prepared before traveling.

The poor ecology of the city also seriously increases blood pressure, harming the cardiovascular system and developing hypertension. Even short-term exposure to harmful substances that a person inhales every day can provoke the development of hypertension in 3 months. Three common pollutants in all modern cities - nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide - negatively affect blood pressure and vascular function.

Stress

Nervous and emotional stress (stress, nervous breakdown, excessive emotionality) is the most common cause of exacerbation of hypertension. Any negative, unexpressed and suppressed emotions are dangerous for human health. Long-term stress is a constant stress that wears out the blood vessels and the heart faster than it would in a calm environment. The consequence of a nervous breakdown is often an increase in blood pressure and a hypertensive crisis. Stress is especially harmful when combined with alcohol and smoking. such a combination dramatically increases blood pressure.

As a rule, in a person with essential hypertension, blood pressure rises and lasts longer, even with small emotional stress. Gradually, with repeated increases in blood pressure, which can last for many months, the apparatus responsible for regulating blood pressure gets used to the load, and blood pressure is slowly fixed at a certain level.

The diagnosis "Arterial hypertension" is made in those cases when, during medical examinations, an increase in pressure is recorded to a level of 140/90 mm Hg and above.

To make a diagnosis, the following conditions must be met! There should be at least two examinations of the patient by the doctor. At each intake, the pressure is measured at least two times.

Of all cardiovascular diseases, hypertension is considered the most common. An increase in blood pressure is often accompanied by impairment of memory and performance, increased irritability, headaches and dizziness. All these troubles are of a fickle nature.

Most people take these symptoms for ordinary fatigue and do not go to a physician. In the meantime, the disease is progressing. Over time, mood swings and headaches appear more often, performance and memory deteriorate greatly.

Stages of arterial hypertension

Arterial hypertension develops gradually and has several stages:

Stage I, or mild, is diagnosed if an increase in pressure occurs to a level from 140/90 to 160/99 mm Hg. At this stage, blood pressure usually returns to normal during rest. Concomitant symptoms - headaches, tinnitus, insomnia, decreased performance. Sometimes there may be dizziness and nosebleeds.
Stage II, or middle, is characterized by a steady increase in blood pressure to a level from 160/100 to 180/109 mm Hg. Dizziness and headaches often make themselves felt. Pains appear in the region of the heart.
Stage III, or severe, is manifested by an increase in blood pressure above 180/110 mm Hg even at rest, which is accompanied by hypertensive crises.

The degree of hypertension is defined in two terms:

Essential hypertension, or primary, is a chronic form of the disease. It occurs in 80% of cases in patients with high blood pressure. Often, its level is the only sign of illness.
Secondary hypertension, or symptomatic, is a form of the disease in which the cause of its development is the pathology of the vessels or internal organs.

Hypertension most often develops in people living in highly developed countries, where the level of psycho-emotional stress is too high.

Residents of large cities are more prone to stress and depression. Experts are sure that the central nervous system plays the main role in the development of this disease.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

For a long time, a person may not even suspect that his blood pressure periodically rises.

Most patients seek help from specialists with complaints of severe fatigue, memory impairment, frequent headaches and dizziness, and insomnia. And only at the doctor's appointment it turns out that all these symptoms are evidence of the development of hypertension.

Reasons to see a doctor:

throbbing headaches, which are accompanied by darkening in the eyes, redness of the face and neck;
heart pain and periodic heart rhythm disturbances;
dizziness;
visual impairment with the effect of flickering flies or spots in front of the eyes;
tremors of the whole body, as with chills;
excessive sweating.

As a rule, one or more of the symptoms from the above list indicate an increase in blood pressure.

Risk factors for the development of pathology

Various factors can serve as the cause of the development of hypertension. Most often it is heredity. Constant emotional stress is also one of the most common causes of the development of the disease.

The following factors contribute to the rise in blood pressure:

poor heredity;
constant stress;
obesity;
high cholesterol levels;
alcohol and smoking;
diseases of the nervous system, thyroid gland and hypothalamus;
sedentary lifestyle;
kidney disease;
oxygen starvation;
excessive salt intake;
menopause;
constant stay in the noise zone.

Traditional treatment of hypertension

To stabilize blood pressure, patients are advised to change their lifestyle and diet. It is advised to focus all efforts on losing weight and giving up bad habits.

The dietary menu assumes a decrease in the amount of salt in the diet.

Tips for changing your work schedule:

work in one shift;
exclusion of night shifts;
improving working conditions;
allocating time for rest and good sleep;
increased motor activity.

When the diagnosis of "Arterial hypertension" is made, all patients are prescribed antihypertensive drugs.

The doctor must warn that with a decrease in blood pressure, the general well-being can sometimes deteriorate. Therefore, the doctor selects the level of target blood pressure and the rate of decrease taking into account various factors. For example, the age of the patient, the presence or absence of vascular pathologies, the duration of the disease.

Drug-free treatment

Drug therapy

weight loss;
a low-calorie diet low in animal fats;
control over the use of salt (no more than 5 g per day), exclusion of pickles, smoked meats, sausages and salted fish from the diet;
enrichment of the diet with foods high in potassium and magnesium (legumes, dried fruits, baked potatoes, rose hips, nuts, oatmeal, wheat, buckwheat);
limiting the use of alcoholic beverages with a complete rejection of beer and red wine (in terms of alcohol, the norm for men is 30 g per day, for women - 15 g);
quitting the habit of smoking;
moderate physical activity without straining and holding your breath;
training in alternative stress management techniques;
the use of sedative psychotropic drugs;
healthy sleep.

If non-drug treatment does not give the desired results and the pressure is still above 140/90 mm Hg, it is necessary to add therapy with one of the drugs:

ACE inhibitors;
diuretics;
ß-blockers;
calcium antagonists.

If the action of the drug is ineffective, then a drug from another group is additionally prescribed.

To enhance the antihypertensive effect, the doctor may prescribe three drugs from different groups at once.

Effective drugs and pills for hypertension

In young patients, the pressure is easily normalized if there are no vascular complications. In older people, it is brought to a dangerous level. With the use of drugs, withdrawal syndrome is often observed, accompanied by hypertensive crises. Therefore, continuous therapy with antihypertensive drugs is needed for a long time.

Table: effective drugs for lowering blood pressure

Name of the medicinal product	Drug action
Dogepit	Under the action of the drug, there is an increase in adrenergic receptors in the brain and a decrease in sympathetic activity in the peripheral zone.
Enalapril	Blood pressure decreases due to the expansion of blood vessels; the functions of the heart are optimized; the release of sodium ions increases.
Gemiton	Has an effect on the alpha-adrenergic receptors of the brain; the drug has a sedative effect.
Octadine	A potent agent reduces the tone of small vessels and veins. At the same time, the level of diastolic pressure decreases, the amount of blood in the venous reservoir increases, and cardiac output decreases.
Anaprilin	Under the action of the drug, cardiac output decreases. Sinus rhythm is disturbed.
Hypothiazide	The drug has a diuretic effect. Under its action, cardiac output decreases.
Furosemide	The action of the drug is based on the inhibition of the reabsorption of water and sodium.
Kapoten	The drug prevents narrowing of arterial and venous vessels. Effectively lowers blood pressure.

When the pressure rises to a critical level (), the following agents are used: Aminazin, Lasix, Rausedil, Dibazol, Kapoten, Pentamin, Magnesium sulfate, Dopegit.

Treatment of hypertension with folk remedies

Non-traditional methods of treatment are in the arsenal of every hypertensive patient. Traditional medicine helps to reduce blood pressure gradually and keep it at the normal level for a long time. These drugs cannot be substituted for the main treatment. However, they help to maintain well-being.

In folk medicine, healing properties are widely used:

Honey and its products. In recipes to enhance the healing effect, it is combined with herbs, vegetable juices and berries. Infusions of wild rose, viburnum, mountain ash, raisins, prunes, dried apricots, hawthorns are drunk with honey to reduce blood pressure.
Viburnum. To improve the work of the heart, the berries are eaten together with the seeds directly raw. To lower blood pressure, you can prepare the so-called "ruby drink". Berries together with seeds are brewed in a thermos and drunk with sugar or honey.
Mountain ash red and black. 1 kg of red mountain ash is ground with 700 g of sugar. They eat a delicious healing mixture twice a day, about 100 g. Syrup of 1 kg of black mountain ash and 600 g of sugar are drunk three times a day, 1 tablespoon each.

Recipes for lowering blood pressure:

Mix freshly squeezed red beet juice in a 1: 1 ratio with honey. Take up to 5 times a day, a couple of tablespoons.
Mix cranberry juice with honey in a 1: 1 ratio and take a tablespoon three times a day 20 minutes before meals.
Mix the chopped viburnum fruits weighing 100 g with the same amount of buckwheat honey and bring to a boil. The cooled mixture is taken three times a day for a tablespoon.
Prepare a three-day tincture of 200 g of carrot juice, 200 g of beet juice, 200 g of honey, 100 g of cranberries, 100 ml of alcohol. They drink it three times a day for a tablespoon.
On an empty stomach, drink a drink from 1 glass of mineral water, a tablespoon of honey and the juice of half a lemon. The course of treatment is from 7 to 10 days.
Remove 100 g of hawthorn berries from seeds and pour 2 glasses of cold water overnight. In the morning, boil the mixture and strain. You need to drink this drink for a month.
A couple of glasses a day of decoction of potato peel effectively relieves pressure.

Many have noticed that during fasting, blood pressure is normalized when the amount of fatty, meat, and sweet foods is limited in the diet.

Prevention of pathology

Compliance with simple rules will help maintain normal blood pressure:

Reducing the amount of salt in the diet. This food supplement increases blood pressure in people with diabetes mellitus, it retains water in the body, which provokes vasoconstriction.
Limiting the diet of animal fats and foods high in cholesterol. These are fatty meat, bacon, caviar, mayonnaise, eggs, buns, margarine, ice cream, confectionery. Butter can be replaced with vegetable oil, and instead of fatty meat and lard, there is fish.
Refusal from products that can excite the nervous system. These include caffeinated drinks: tea and coffee, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola
An increase in the diet of foods high in magnesium and potassium. These substances strengthen the heart muscle and reduce vasospasm. Potassium is found in citrus fruits, potatoes, rye bread, legumes, dried fruits, radishes, cabbage, bananas, black currants, garlic, asparagus, parsley, onions, carrots, and cucumbers. There is a lot of magnesium in buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, beets, chocolate, walnuts. It must be remembered that calcium, which is found in large quantities in milk, reduces the absorption of potassium and magnesium.
Increase in the diet of foods rich in vitamin C. This vitamin is found in large quantities in raw vegetables, fruits and berries. During heat treatment, it quickly degrades. The record holders for vitamin C content are black currant, citrus fruits, rose hips, sea buckthorn.

It is important to understand that treating hypertension in the early stages requires little effort. Severe stages are difficult to treat and are the cause of a stroke or heart attack.

Principles of Rapid Treatment and Prevention

First, arterial hypertension should be treated continuously and practically for life. This disease does not apply to temporary, which is enough to cure for some time and forget about medications. Even after reaching the desired pressure values, therapy is not abandoned. If during this period you stop taking drugs, then it may rise again.

Secondly, a combination of several drugs is most often used for treatment. Most often, doctors prescribe a combination of 2-3 drugs that need to be taken in small doses. As a rule, such a treatment regimen is better than using only one drug, but at the maximum dosage.

When several drugs are taken, various mechanisms of the development of hypertension, which is a multifactorial disease, are influenced. At the same time, there are drugs prescribed in the form of fixed combinations.

You can't get hooked on drugs used to treat hypertension. They are not addictive. Therefore, you should not be afraid of long-term use of prescribed drugs, fearing that the body will get used to them, and they will stop working. But it's important to stick to the dosage prescribed by the doctor to avoid any side effects from the medication.

You should not delve into the annotations for medicines on your own. When prescribing treatment, the doctor is guided by the existing contraindications and side effects of a particular drug. In addition, many of the side effects indicated in the annotation are relatively rare. Experts recommend rather to be afraid of drugs that do not have side effects, since they are more likely to be a "dummy".

Therapy should be daily without missing treatment.

It is noted that Europeans are less likely to have hypertensive crises, since they regularly use prescribed drugs. If a person is trying to independently change the treatment regimen, then this can be a direct road to a stroke.

Only daily and constant therapy can protect against hypertensive crises. Treatment of hypertension with alternative methods should be carried out under the supervision of the attending physician. If you have been diagnosed, then any treatment and prevention methods must be approved by a specialist who has fully reviewed your medical history.

An effective treatment can only be selected by a general practitioner or cardiologist, based on the diagnosis of the body and control of the pressure level.

Hypertension is a chronic illness accompanied by persistently high blood pressure.

A deterioration in the work of the heart is also possible, therefore, it is necessary to deal with the disease in a comprehensive manner. The causes of hypertension can be different, and on the basis of this, the main tactics of treatment are determined.

Factors preceding the development of the disease

What explains

If we consider in more detail what hypertension is, then only one explanation is possible - a constant or periodic increase in pressure. But what are the causes of hypertension is more difficult to say. The disease can occur under the influence of many factors, but first of all it manifests itself in the narrowing of the lumen of the arteries, as a result of which the blood flow is significantly complicated.

Most vulnerable categories

If we consider in detail the causes of hypertension, then here it is worth highlighting the risk group - people who, by definition, are much more prone to the appearance of such a disease. Disease-provoking factors include:

smoking;
improper diet and, as a result, overweight;
not active lifestyle (sedentary work);
diabetes;
high cholesterol levels;
age. For men - over 55 years old, for women - over 65.

It is interesting that the signs of hypertension are observed to a greater extent in residents of developed countries. The situation there is really catastrophic - more than 30% of the population is affected by this disease. In men, it occurs quite often. Even worse, the disease has recently become significantly "younger" - now the disease can be found even in adolescents, despite the fact that earlier only elderly people suffered from it.

Moreover, the causes of hypertension can be conditionally divided into dependent and non-dependent. If, for example, you can quit smoking, keep the provoking disease (diabetes) under control, then age and heredity cannot be changed in any way.

Main symptoms

As a rule, signs of hypertension begin to appear gradually and sometimes a person may not even pay attention to them. This disease is dangerous, because if you do not start the treatment of hypertension in a timely manner, then it can go to later stages, when it will no longer be possible to get rid of it completely.

The main symptoms of hypertension:

severe headaches. Moreover, they can significantly increase under loads. Localization of pain - back of the head, weight;
heartache;
heart palpitations;
noise in the head;
dizziness.

If the first signs of hypertension appear, then it is necessary to measure the pressure as soon as possible. If you continue to do nothing, then a hypertensive crisis may occur in the future.

The main method of treatment

Stages of the disease

The method of treatment will directly depend on the stage of the disease. There are 3 stages of the disease. The classification is based specifically on pressure readings. Types of hypertension:

1 degree. Easy enough form. The maximum to which the pressure can rise is 160/100. In this case, blood pressure can return to normal by itself. Exercises for hypertension in this case may well help to cope without pills - you just need to rest, relax, lightly massage the weights.
2nd degree. Moderate stage. The maximum blood pressure is 180/110. He cannot return to normal blood pressure on his own. The duration of such indicators is quite long.
3 degree. Severe form with pressure above 180/110. In this case, even with drug treatment, blood pressure almost never returns to normal. Even if it is possible to achieve such results, the patient, as a rule, feels even worse, since he is already getting used to living with just such pressure.

This classification helps to determine whether hypertension can be cured in this case. It must be understood that at the first stage, the forecasts are still quite favorable and with proper treatment and lifestyle, the disease may not manifest itself at all for many years. At the last stage, this is no longer possible.

The main methods of treatment

Many patients often ask the question of how to cure hypertension permanently. Alas, this is not possible. It is a chronic disease and can only be controlled. The classification of stages shows that at stage 3, no matter what the pressure does not increase, it will not be possible to completely get rid of the disease.

Considering how to defeat hypertension, one should first highlight the main classification of the drugs used. Their main role is to normalize blood pressure and minimize its surges.

The main groups of drugs:

lowering blood pressure;
dilating vessels;
diuretics;
sedatives. The classification of the causes of the disease in one of the first places puts just chronic stress, therefore, a normal psychological state is one of the most important components of successful treatment.

At the same time, only a doctor can choose really suitable and effective drugs, depending on each specific case. It must be understood that even the two best medicines may simply not be compatible with each other. Even for men and women, drugs can be different.

In addition, there is an additional classification of the causes of high blood pressure - this also affects the technique. For example, high blood pressure can be caused by kidney disease. And then, first of all, you need to fight the root cause - as soon as the kidneys return to normal, blood pressure is immediately normalized. In men, this problem is much more common than in women. But on the other hand, in men, much less often it develops into a hypertensive crisis.

ethnoscience

For a long time, in solving the problem of how to defeat hypertension, alternative methods of treatment have been actively used. Of course, they are unlikely to help reduce too high pressure, but in the early stages they may well help. It is still advisable to first consult a doctor, but there are absolutely harmless methods that will certainly not make anyone worse.

Chamomile tea

First of all, a special diet is being developed. This is especially true for men! It is worth completely eliminating alcohol. Also, minimize the consumption of fatty, fried, smoked, too salty, sour, spicy.
Minimize fluid intake. At the same time, you can eat watermelons in unlimited quantities, which have diuretic properties and also help cleanse the kidneys (in men, this is a fairly common reason for an increase in blood pressure).
Drink tea with chamomile and mint at night. It has sedative properties and helps to relax. For men, it is recommended to drink mint tea with caution, since mint in large quantities can cause a deterioration in potency.

Although the classification of methods is conditional and is divided into preventive measures and direct control measures, it is still possible to resort to preventive methods at the initial stages - they will help to avoid further development of the disease.

Living with illness

The most common complications

If the treatment of hypertension was not started in a timely manner, then after a while the disease may progress and a number of complications may occur. The most common consequences of hypertension:

kidney problems (kidney pressure);
disruption of the heart;
brain damage (edema);
stroke;
heart attack.

At the same time, men are more likely to have heart attacks, and women - strokes.

Hypertensive crisis

This is the most serious complication. It occurs if the treatment of hypertension was not started or the course was not chosen correctly. In this case, the danger lies in the fact that a hypertensive crisis can aggravate already existing diseases of the kidneys, heart, and brain. The difficulty is that if in normal cases the pressure rises gradually, then a sharp and sudden jump can be observed here, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

In men, hypertensive crises are more rare. In some cases, the patient may experience convulsions or complete loss of consciousness.

Preventive measures

Analyzing how to live with hypertension, one can fully be convinced of the correctness of the theory that it is much easier to prevent the disease than to fight it later. Hypertension has various causes, and if a person is initially included in the risk group, then even if he does not do something provoking, most likely the ailment will still manifest itself. But there is an important point - at the initial stage of hypertension, there are various ways to prevent the further development of the disease. Depending on what it arises and you need to draw a conclusion.

First of all, the fight against hypertension includes constant monitoring of blood pressure. If you take the necessary medications and do not allow a strong increase in pressure, then most likely it will not even reach the 2nd degree of hypertension.

But it is still worth identifying the main ways to try to prevent the disease:

even with excellent health, control the pressure in order to diagnose the disease as soon as possible;
exercise. Exercises for hypertension are more gentle, but you still need to keep the vessels in good shape;
quit smoking, do not abuse alcohol;
monitor your weight, prevent obesity;
exclude foods that increase cholesterol levels from the diet (sour cream, eggs, butter, too fatty foods);
periodically do examinations: donate blood for sugar and do an ultrasound of the heart;
alternate work and rest. At the same time, if a person works mentally, then active rest is necessary during breaks, and if physically, one should just sit or lie down.

Conclusion

Although there is no exact answer to how to get rid of hypertension forever, it is still necessary to do everything possible to prevent further development of the disease. The earlier the treatment of hypertension is started, the more chances for a full and healthy life in the future. At the early stage of hypertension, this is not particularly terrible - you just need to monitor your blood pressure and, if necessary, take medications. But for this, the most important thing is to diagnose the disease on time. That is why it is so important to consult a doctor at the first symptoms in order to find the most appropriate therapy.

Video

Hypertension is a disease in which there is persistent high blood pressure. Signs of this disease can be present in women and men, but in the latter, arterial appears much more often.

With overestimated blood pressure, a fatal pathology of the cardiovascular system develops. Typical jumps are dangerous to health, and in the absence of timely therapy, doctors do not exclude a hypertensive crisis. 30% of all patients face such a problem, and the symptom is constantly getting younger.

In this article, we will consider: what kind of disease it is, at what age it most often occurs and what becomes the cause, as well as the first signs and methods of treatment in adults.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is a medical condition characterized by high blood pressure. In a person who does not have hypertension, normal blood pressure is approximately 120/80 mm Hg, with minor deviations taken into account.

Arterial hypertension has a negative effect on the patient's vessels, which narrow and damage in a short time. If the blood flow is too powerful, the walls of the vessels do not withstand and burst, as a result of which the patients experience hemorrhage.

To "catch" the disease at the initial stage, when the changes are reversible, you need to regularly measure your blood pressure. If, during periodic measurements, numbers that exceed normal values are often detected, blood pressure correction is necessary.

Numbers are considered normal:

for people aged 16-20 years - 100/70 - 120/80 mm. rt. Art .;
at 20-40 years old - 120/70 - 130/80;
40-60 - not higher than 135/85;
60 years and more - no more than 140/90.

Who is a hypertensive patient?

A hypertensive person is a person with chronic high blood pressure. This is a dangerous condition, since high blood pressure significantly increases the risk of serious cardiovascular disease.

A hypertensive person can be called a person with a blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg. Art.

According to statistics in recent years, 25% of all adults suffer from high blood pressure. And among the elderly, the percentage of hypertensive patients is even higher - 57%.

So how to identify a true hypertensive patient? It is necessary to measure the pressure in the supine position and during physical activity. In a healthy person, the difference will not be too noticeable, and the hypertensive person will begin to experience difficulties and his pressure can jump to 220/120 millimeters of mercury. Simply put: a real hypertensive person has a very acute reaction to exercise.

If a person has a pressure jump only once, then this does not mean that you need to forget about it. Even a single incident should make the person with whom it happened to be on the alert.

Causes of occurrence

To ensure a long period of remission, it is important to study the etiology of the pathological process. The main causes of hypertension are impaired blood circulation through the vessels, limited supply to the left ventricle of the heart. In modern medicine, there is a completely logical explanation for this - structural changes in blood vessels with age, the formation of blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques in their cavities.

The essence of the development of hypertension is the absence of normal reactions (vasodilation) after the elimination of stressful situations. Such conditions are typical for the following persons:

Abuse of salty foods - salt intake in excess of the norm (15 g per day) leads to fluid retention, increased stress on the heart, which can cause spasm of arterial vessels;
Lovers of alcoholic beverages and smokers;
Persons whose work is associated with constant night shifts, emergency situations, strenuous physical and intellectual activity, severe stressful situations, frequent negative emotions;
Patients with chronic kidney disease;
People whose relatives were sick with hypertension, suffered a stroke or myocardial infarction.

Important: in men from 35 to 50 years old and in women in menopause, the likelihood of developing hypertension increases.

The predisposition to hypertension is genetically determined. Symptoms that come to light in the closest blood relatives are a fairly clear signal about the need to carefully consider your health.

Stages and degrees

For the correct diagnosis of hypertension, doctors first need to determine the degree or stage of hypertension in a patient and make, so to speak, an appropriate entry in his medical record. If the diagnosis of the disease occurred in the later stages, the second or third, then the consequences for the body may be more serious than for the first stage of the disease.

Stage 1 hypertension is blood pressure 140–159 / 90–99 mm Hg. Art. The pressure can return from time to time to normal values, and then rise again;
Stage 2 is blood pressure, which fluctuates between 160-179 / 100-109 mm Hg. Art. The pressure is often understood and very rarely returns to normal;
3rd stage - when the pressure rises to 180 and above / 110 mm Hg. Art. The pressure is almost constantly kept high, and its decrease can be a sign of a malfunction in the work of the heart.

1st degree

The first degree of hypertension is initial. The pressure here does not exceed 140/158 by 90/97, and it rises abruptly and periodically, for no apparent reason. After, the pressure can suddenly return to normal. Present:

headache,
dizziness,
feeling of "flies" before the eyes,
sometimes there is tinnitus.

Second degree hypertension

In the second stage of hypertension, the pressure rises to 180/100 mm. Even if the patient takes rest, it does not drop to normal levels. In addition to increasing blood pressure, there may be:

narrowing of the retinal artery,
left ventricular hypertrophy,
protein appears in the urine during analysis and a slight increase in creatine in the blood plasma.

May be:

headache,
dizziness,
sleep disturbances,
angina pectoris,
dyspnea.

With this stage, such misfortunes can come as heart attacks, strokes.

3 degree of hypertension

The clinical picture with grade 3 hypertension is aggravated by the following symptoms:

Change in gait;
Persistent deterioration of vision;
Hemoptysis;
Persistent arrhythmia;
Movement coordination disorders;
A hypertensive attack of considerable duration with impaired vision and speech, sharp pains in the heart, clouding of consciousness;
Restriction of the ability to move independently and do without assistance.

Symptoms of hypertension in adults

The primary symptom of hypertension, and sometimes the main one, is a persistent excess of 140/90 mm Hg. Other signs of hypertension are directly related to blood pressure parameters. If the pressure rises slightly, the person simply feels unwell, weak, and pain in the head.

The latent course of hypertension or the initial stage of the disease can be suspected if the following are periodically noted:

headaches;
unmotivated feeling of anxiety;
hyperhidrosis (increased sweating);
chilliness;
hyperemia (redness) of the skin of the facial area;
small spots before the eyes;
memory impairment;
low efficiency;
irritability for no reason;
swelling of the eyelids and face in the morning;
heart palpitations at rest;
numbness of the fingers.

Symptoms of hypertension appear in different combinations, not all at once, but as the disease progresses. Headache attacks can develop at the end of the day, coinciding with the physiological peak in blood pressure. Not uncommon and headache immediately after waking up.

Signs of high blood pressure with the development of a severe degree of the disease are accompanied by complications of the heart and blood vessels:

heart failure
myocardial infarction.

The great danger of arterial hypertension is that it can be asymptomatic for a long time and the person does not even know about the onset and developing disease. Occasional dizziness, weakness, lightheadedness, "flies in the eyes" are attributed to overwork or meteorological factors, instead of measuring the pressure.

Although these symptoms indicate a violation of cerebral circulation and strongly require consultation with a cardiologist.

Complications

One of the most important manifestations of hypertension is damage to target organs, which include:

Heart (left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, development of heart failure);
brain (discirculatory encephalopathy, hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes,
kidneys (nephrosclerosis, renal failure);
vessels (exfoliating, etc.).

The most dangerous manifestation of hypertension is a crisis - a condition with a sharp increase, a jump in blood pressure. A crisis state is fraught with or and is manifested by the following symptoms:

A sharp, sudden or rapidly increasing headache.
Blood pressure indicators up to 260/120 mm Hg.
Pressure in the region of the heart, aching pains.
Severe shortness of breath.
Vomiting beginning with nausea.
Increased heart rate,.
Loss of consciousness, convulsions, paralysis.

Diagnostics

When detecting increased blood pressure indicators, the doctor pays attention to the following factors:

the reasons as a result of which this condition occurs;
the frequency of the rise in blood pressure;
the presence of pathologies of internal organs - kidneys, brain, heart.

It is also necessary to carry out at least three measurements of blood pressure indicators within a month. Laboratory tests are required to identify:

risk factors for other diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
to establish the degree of damage to target organs;
diagnose possible symptomatic hypertension.

The presence of signs characteristic of high blood pressure and the development of hypertension is indicated by the malfunctioning of the heart muscle. For its research, the following methods are used:

auscultation - with the help of a phonendoscope, the sounds produced by the organ are heard, the rhythm of its work is observed;
ecg - decoding of the electrocardiogram taken from the patient allows you to assess in detail the functions of the heart for a certain time period;
ultrasound and echocardiographic diagnostic methods reveal myocardial and valve defects, allow to correlate the sizes of the atria, ventricles;
Doppler study makes it possible to assess the state of the vessels;
arteriography - the result of monitoring informs about changes in the walls of arteries, their damage, the location of cholesterol plaques.

How is hypertension treated?

Treatment of hypertension directly depends on the stage of the disease. The main goal of the treatment is to minimize the risk of developing cardiovascular complications and prevent the threat of death.

The goal of drug therapy is to lower blood pressure, namely to eliminate the cause of this vascular condition. At the beginning of the treatment of hypertension, mono and combination therapy is appropriate. If it is ineffective, I use low doses of combinations of antihypertensive drugs.

During treatment, patients should lead a calm lifestyle in which neither stress nor emotional overload is present. Patients need to spend more time outdoors, it is best to take long walks in the forest, in the park, by the reservoir. It is imperative to follow a diet, since proper nutrition is the key to successful treatment of arterial hypertension.

The main groups of drugs for hypertension:

Diuretics (diuretics) contribute to unloading blood circulation, removing excess fluid. But together with the liquid, such an element useful for the heart as potassium is excreted, therefore the use of these funds is strictly dosed, requires correction with potassium preparations (asparkam, panangin). Examples of diuretic drugs: hypothiazide, indapamide.
Drugs that can affect the strength of cardiac output, on muscle contractions of the heart (beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers). These include bisoprolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, amlodipine.
Medicines acting in different ways on vascular tone... Examples of drugs: lisinopril, monopril, losartan, valsartan.

A sharp increase in blood pressure, not accompanied by the appearance of symptoms from other organs, can be stopped by oral or sublingual (sublingual) medication with a relatively rapid effect. These include

Anaprilin (a group of β-blockers, usually if the rise in blood pressure is accompanied by tachycardia),
Nifedipine (its analogs - Corinfar, Cordaflex, Cordipin) (a group of calcium antagonists),
Captopril (a group of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors),
Clonidine (its analogue is Clofelline) and others.

Medicines for relief:

Captopril 10-50 mg orally. The duration of the action of the drug lasts up to 5 hours;
Nifedipine is taken under the tongue. The duration of the action of the agent is about 5 hours.
Beta-blockers (atenolol, esmolol) are used for hypertension to normalize the tone of the sympathetic nervous system. They are used when an increase in blood pressure is combined with a decrease in the heart rate;
Vasodilators (sodium nitroprusside, hydralazine);
Diuretics (furosemide).

Non-pharmacological treatment includes:

decrease in body weight due to a decrease in dietary fats and carbohydrates,
limiting the consumption of table salt (4-5 g per day, and with a tendency to retention of sodium and water 3 g per day;
total amount of fluid consumed - 1.2-1.5 liters per day), spa treatment, methods of physiotherapy and exercise therapy,
psychotherapeutic influences.

Diet

Diet is one of the important points in hypertension. Below, we have compiled a list of recommendations to follow while eating:

There should be as little animal fats as possible: fatty meat, especially pork, butter, fatty dairy products. The only exception is fish, as its fat lowers the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.
The amount of salt in the diet should be as low as possible, since it retains fluid in the body, which is highly undesirable.
It is very important that the diet contains fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, juices.
It is advisable to establish fractional meals with small portions, but frequent meals.
Strong tea and coffee must be excluded from the diet. They should be replaced with compote, herbal drinks, fruit drink.

Doctors give such advice to hypertensive patients:

balance the diet, eat at a certain time at least 4 times a day, give preference to healthy and fresh products;
avoid stress;
get enough sleep;
improve emotional mood;
consume the rate of fluid daily;
go in for sports - exercise is important every morning, after a working day you can visit the pool or gym;
it is forbidden to be in a sitting or lying position for a long time at the computer - you need to constantly warm up and do not forget about nutrition;
monitor changes in atmospheric pressure every day and analyze your blood pressure. At the slightest discomfort, it is worth contacting a doctor and undergoing a course of therapy;
to refuse from bad habits;
control weight.

Contrary to popular belief, not all exercise is beneficial for this condition. You shouldn't do strength training.

The most effective gymnastics for you will be stretching, that is, a set of stretching exercises, as well as muscle relaxation as in the yoga system.
To better treat hypertension, give adequate attention to fresh air and water treatments.

Folk remedies

Before using folk remedies for hypertension, be sure to consult with your doctor. Because there may be contraindications for use.

Black currants and strawberries in combination with honey and beets, you can take a tablespoon 4 times daily;
Teaspoon of lingonberry leaves diluted with 2 glasses of water, and cooked for 15 minutes. The solution should be drunk during the day;
People with hypertension need to chop a head of garlic, mix with two glasses of fresh cranberries and a glass of honey. Better to use a blender or meat grinder to get a homogeneous mass. The product should be taken 3 large spoons daily immediately after breakfast.
Grind three lemons in a blender with skins and a quarter of a glass of hazelnut kernels. Add half a glass of honey to the mixture. Take in a monthly course of 2 tablespoons daily.
Instead of tea, when hypertension is treated with folk remedies, hypertensive patients are advised to use decoctions of rose hips, hawthorns.
We take a honeycomb spoon of cranberries, half a tablespoon of fresh and chopped rose hips, and mix with a tablespoon of grated lemon. Add one glass of honey to this mixture. You need to use this composition one tablespoon every morning and evening.

Prophylaxis

The best medicine for hypertension is prevention. With the help of it, you can prevent the development of hypertension or weaken an existing disease:

We keep ourselves in hand. Try to protect yourself from nervous shocks, stress. Relax more often, rest, do not strain your nerves with constant thoughts about the unpleasant. You can sign up for yoga courses or spend time on walks with your family.
We normalize the diet. We add more vegetables, fruits, nuts. Reducing the amount of fatty, spicy or salty foods consumed.
We get rid of bad habits. Now is the time to forget about cigarettes and excessive amounts of alcohol once and for all.
Rational nutrition (limiting the consumption of foods with a large amount of animal fats, no more than 50-60 g per day, and easily digestible carbohydrates). With hypertension, it is necessary to include in the daily diet foods rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium (dried apricots, prunes, raisins, baked potatoes , beans, parsley, low-fat cottage cheese, chicken egg yolks).
Fight against hypodynamia (exercise in the fresh air and daily exercise therapy).
Fighting obesity (trying to lose weight is not strongly recommended: you can reduce body weight by no more than 5-10% per month).
Normalization of sleep patterns (at least 8 hours a day). A clear daily routine with a constant wake-up time and bedtime.

Hypertension must be treated without fail in order to avoid dangerous complications. When the first signs appear, be sure to consult a cardiologist or neurologist.

It's all about hypertension: what kind of disease it is, what are its main symptoms, how to treat it. Be healthy!

Hypertension is a chronic ailment, which is characterized by a persistent increase in blood pressure to high numbers due to a violation of the regulation of blood circulation in the human body. Also, terms such as arterial hypertension and hypertension are used to refer to this condition.

Medical statistics are such that today hypertension is one of the most common diseases. It usually begins to progress in people after 40 years of age, but there is a risk of its progression at any age. So, more and more often, the disease began to be detected in patients of working age. It is worth noting that the fair sex is sick several times more often than men. But it is in men that hypertension is more severe, since they are more prone to the development of blood vessels.

Blood pressure can increase with strong mental or physical stress for a short time - this is absolutely normal. A longer increase in blood pressure is observed in a number of diseases of the kidneys, endocrine glands, as well as during pregnancy. But in this case, hypertension is only one of the symptoms that indicate changes in the organs. In hypertension, an increase in blood pressure is an independent, initially arisen, painful process.

The pathogenesis of hypertension is such that, under the influence of exogenous and endogenous factors, the tone of the walls of arterioles in the body increases. As a result, they gradually narrow and the blood flow in the affected vessels is disrupted. During this pathological process, blood pressure on the walls of the arteries increases, which entails further symptoms.

Etiology

The main reason for the progression of hypertension is an increase in the activity of the sympathetic-adrenal system. In the medulla oblongata in humans, the vasomotor center is localized. From it, along the nerve fibers to the walls of the vessels, certain impulses go, forcing the vessels to expand or contract. If this center is in a state of irritation, then only impulses will come to the vessels, increasing the tone of their walls. As a result, the lumen of the artery narrows.

Arterial hypertension is characterized by a simultaneous increase in systolic and diastolic pressure. This is observed under the influence of various adverse factors.

Exogenous risk factors:

severe nervous tension is the most common cause of progression;
hypodynamia;
poor nutrition. Non-compliance with the diet and the use of large quantities of fatty and fried foods;
excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
smoking;
the use of narcotic drugs.

Endogenous risk factors:

burdened heredity;
atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels of the heart;
increased blood viscosity (the heart cannot fully distill it through the vessels);
kidney ailments, such as;
metabolic disorder;
the presence of endocrine pathologies;
increased concentration of calcium in the blood;
the action of adrenaline on the heart during stressful situations;
increased concentration of sodium in the blood.

Classification

For the entire time of the study of the disease, scientists have developed more than one classification of hypertension - by the patient's appearance, by etiology, by the level of pressure increase, the nature of the course, and so on. Some have long been irrelevant, while others, on the contrary, are being used more and more often.

The degree of hypertension (according to the level of pressure):

optimal - indicators 120/80;
normal - upper from 120 to 129, lower - from 80 to 84;
increased normal - the upper values are from 130 to 139, the lower ones are from 85 to 89;
hypertension of the 1st degree - DM from 140 to 159, DD - from 90 to 99;
hypertension of the 2nd degree - indicators of systolic pressure increase to 160-179, and diastolic - up to 100-109;
hypertension of the 3rd degree - systolic pressure increases over 140, and diastolic pressure - over 110.

Stages of essential hypertension according to WHO:

stage 1 hypertension - the pressure rises, but changes in the internal organs are not observed. It is also called transitory. The pressure stabilizes after a short rest period;
Stage 2 or stable. At this stage of hypertension, the pressure rises constantly. The main organs of the target are affected. During the examination, it can be noted that the heart, blood vessels of the fundus, kidneys are damaged;
Stage 3 or sclerotic. This stage of hypertension is characterized not only by a critical increase in diabetes mellitus and DD, but also by pronounced sclerotic changes in the blood vessels of the kidneys, heart, brain, fundus. Dangerous complications develop - angioretinopathies, and so on.

Forms of the disease (depending on the vessels of which organs are affected):

renal form;
heart shape;
brain form;
mixed.

Types of hypertension:

benign and slow flowing. In this case, the symptoms of the progression of the pathology can gradually appear over the course of 20 years. There are phases of both exacerbation and remission. The risk of complications is minimal (with timely therapy);
malignant. The pressure rises sharply. This form of hypertension is practically not amenable to therapy. As a rule, the pathology is accompanied by various kidney diseases.

It is worth noting that often with hypertension grade 2 and 3, the patient develops. This is an extremely dangerous condition not only for human health, but also for his life. Clinicians identify the following types of crises:

neurovegetative. The patient is hyperactive and very agitated. The following symptoms of hypertension appear: tremor of the upper extremities, and profuse urination;
hydropic. In this case, the patient is drowsy and his reactions are inhibited. Muscle weakness, swelling of the face and hands, decreased urine output, persistent increase in blood pressure are noted;
convulsive. This option is the most dangerous, since there is a high risk of developing dangerous complications. It is worth noting that it is the least common. It is characterized by the following symptoms: convulsions and impaired consciousness. Complication - cerebral hemorrhage.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the disease directly depend on which stage of hypertension is observed in the patient.

Neurogenic

An increase in blood pressure is usually observed against the background of severe psycho-emotional stress or due to increased physical exertion. At this stage, there may be no signs of pathology at all. Sometimes patients begin to complain of pain in the region of the heart, irritability, headache, tachycardia, a feeling of heaviness in the back of the head. Indicators of DM and DD are increasing, but they can be easily normalized.

Sclerotic

The indicated clinical picture is complemented by the following symptoms:

increased headache;
dizziness;
feeling of a rush of blood to the head;
poor sleep;
periodic numbness of the fingers on the limbs;
fast fatiguability;
"Flies" before the eyes;
persistent increase in blood pressure.

It is worth noting that this stage can progress over several years and the patients will be active and mobile. But a disruption in the supply of certain organs with blood entails a disruption in their functioning.

The ultimate

Usually at this stage, doctors detect and, as well as a violation of blood circulation in the brain. The outcome of the disease, as well as the development of complications, is determined by the form of hypertension. Crises often occur.

With a cardiac form, the patient gradually progresses heart failure. Shortness of breath, pain in the projection of the heart, edema appears. With a cerebral form, a person is worried about severe headaches, impaired visual function.

Hypertension and childbearing

Hypertension during pregnancy is the most common cause of premature birth or perinatal fetal death. Usually, hypertension in a woman already exists before the onset of pregnancy and then simply activates, because bearing a child is a kind of stress for the body.

Given the high risk for the mother and the unborn child, in the case of diagnosing an ailment, it is important to determine exactly the degree of this risk in order to resolve the issue of further bearing the fetus or terminating the pregnancy. Doctors identify three degrees of risk (based on the stage of arterial hypertension):

1 degree of risk - complications of pregnancy are minimal, crises rarely develop. Angina pectoris is possible. Pregnancy in this case is acceptable;
2 degree of risk - severe. Complications develop in 20-50% of cases. A pregnant woman has hypertensive crises, insufficiency of the coronary vessels of the heart, and high blood pressure. Abortion is indicated;
3 degree of risk. Complications of pregnancy occur in 50% of cases. Perinatal mortality is observed in 20% of cases. Detachment of the placenta, impaired blood circulation in the brain is possible. Pregnancy is a danger to the mother's life, so it is interrupted.

Patients who are still pregnant must visit a doctor once a week so that he can monitor their condition. Treatment of hypertension is mandatory. It is allowed to use such antihypertensive drugs:

antispasmodics;
saluretics;
sympatholytics;
clonidine derivatives;
rauwolfia preparations;
ganglion blockers;
beta-blockers.

Also, for the purpose of treating an ailment during pregnancy, doctors resort to physiotherapy.

Diagnostics

When the first signs of an illness appear, it is important to immediately contact a medical institution to confirm or deny the diagnosis. The sooner this is done, the less the risk of progression of dangerous complications (damage to the heart, kidneys, brain). During the initial examination, the doctor necessarily measures the pressure on both hands. If the patient is elderly, then measurements are also taken in a standing position. During the diagnosis, it is important to clarify the true cause of the progression of the pathology.

A comprehensive plan for the diagnosis of essential hypertension includes:

collection of anamnesis;
SMAD;
determination of the level of bad cholesterol in the blood;
x-ray;
fundus examination;

Treatment

Treatment of hypertension is carried out in a stationary setting, so that doctors can constantly monitor the patient's condition and, if necessary, adjust the treatment plan. It is important to normalize the patient's daily regimen, correct his weight, limit the use of table salt, and also completely abandon bad habits.

To correct the pressure, the following drugs are prescribed:

alpha blockers;
beta-blockers;
calcium channel blockers;
diuretics. This group of drugs is especially important, as it helps to reduce the level of sodium in the blood, thereby reducing the swelling of the vessel walls.

All of these drugs should be taken only as directed by the attending physician. Uncontrolled intake of such funds can only worsen the patient's condition. These drugs are taken according to a certain scheme.

Diet

During the treatment of hypertension, in addition to taking medications, it is important to adhere to a special diet. In case of hypertension, the patient is prescribed table number 10. The principles of such a diet:

add seafood to the diet;
limit salt intake;
fractional meals;
limit carbohydrates and animal fats in the diet.

A diet for this pathology implies a limitation:

Sahara;
of bread;
potatoes;
pasta;
cereal dishes;
animal fats;
ghee;
sour cream and so on.

Diet # 10 is complete and can be followed for a long time. To improve the taste of dishes, you can add to them:

prunes;
vinegar;
jam;
cranberries;
lemon.

The diet is indicated not only during treatment, but also after it, so as not to provoke a deterioration in the condition. It should be noted that the diet is developed strictly individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of his body. An important point - while dieting, you need to consume no more than 1.5 liters of liquid per day.

Prophylaxis

Prevention of hypertension is quite simple. The first thing to do is to normalize your diet, as well as lead an active lifestyle. In order for the vessels to be elastic, you need to eat more vegetables and fruits, drink up to 2 liters of water per day. You can take vitamin preparations. Also, the prevention of hypertension implies the exclusion of smoking and taking alcoholic beverages.