Hypertension

Hypertension or arterial hypertension is a condition characterized by constant, i. e. increased blood pressure detected by repeated measurements. Accompanying many diseases, it is considered a risk factor for the development of dangerous complications from the cardiovascular system, including stroke and myocardial infarction. Hypertension, as the main cause of the considered pathology, requires taking medication, normalizing the patient's lifestyle and nutrition.

Everyone has heard complaints about high blood pressure from people around them. According to statistics, hypertension is observed in 20-30% of the adult population on earth.

This disease is found everywhere and is the leading cause of death in many countries. It is important to note that in 90% of cases - this disease is independently diagnosed as primary arterial or essential hypertension. And it is accompanied only in every tenth patient. This disease develops against the background of diseases of the kidneys, lungs, and endocrine glands.

What is arterial hypertension?

A chronic disease expressed by a constant or periodic increase in pressure. Doctors of almost all developed countries call this disease an epidemic of the 21st century. It is found in every second elderly person in Europe and the USA. Half of the diseases are fatal. The scale of the event is impressive and exciting. Despite great progress in the treatment of the elderly in recent decades, it remains an insidious and dangerous disease. This is due to the fact that hypertension is asymptomatic at the initial stage. But the disease causes significant damage to health - it exhausts the cardiovascular system. It is important that people at risk do not neglect prevention and treatment.

Causes and symptoms of hypertension

The causes of pathological formation are different. Often doctors can't find them at all. Especially when it comes to primary hypertension. However, the causes of somatic (secondary) arterial hypertension can be determined. It occurs in 10% of patients with high blood pressure. The main reasons

• kidney damage or glomerulonephritis;
• renal artery stenosis;
• congenital narrowing of the aorta;
• increased functions of internal glands, especially the thyroid gland;
• malignant hypertension occurs against the background of tumors of the adrenal glands;
• alcoholism:
• drugs - hormonal drugs, antidepressants, etc. develops during long-term use.

Symptoms of hypertension

At the initial stage, treatment is complicated by the lack of specific symptoms of this disease. Many patients are unaware of the disease. They have no complaints about their health, they lead an active lifestyle. Although sometimes there are attacks of weakness, dizziness and mild nausea.

Despite the serious consequences, many people do not take this disease seriously and neglect prevention and treatment. In the early stages, the development of this disease can be stopped. Complaints in patients appear when "targets" are damaged. These are organs whose functioning depends on blood pressure. Complications of the disease are mostly given to the heart and blood vessels.

Although not specific, there are symptoms that are suspected of arterial hypertension. This is weakness, flying before the eyes, numbness of the limbs. All these symptoms are temporary. But the main symptom is headaches.

Degrees and stages of hypertension

• Mild or first - SBP 140-159 / DBP 90-99.
• Borderline or second - 160-179 / 100-109.
• Heavy or third degree - 180 and above / 110+.

Isolate another form of the disease. This is systolic isolated hypertension. Its readings are SBP above 140 / DBP below 90.

When blood pressure increases, the target organs suffer first. Based on pathological changes, the disease is divided into stages:

• 1 - no changes are observed in the target organs.
• 2 - changes are established in several organs.
• Stage 3 - associated clinical conditions are recorded.

Risk factors for the development of hypertension

• Age. This disease is most often diagnosed in women over 65 years old and in men over 55 years old.
• Cholesterol content exceeds 6. 5 mmol per liter.
• Hereditary diseases of the cardiovascular system in a straight ascending line.
• Long-term smoking.
• Having diabetes.
• Hypertension develops with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

All risk factors are divided into two groups. Correction - removable. This includes diabetes, smoking, cholesterol, obesity. Uncorrectable - these are those that are not affected by medicine - weak heredity and age. In this case, it is necessary to follow the recommendations on nutrition and lifestyle in order not to cause the development of arterial hypertension.

Hypertension in women

It differs from men. First, there are forms of the disease that are not mentioned in the strong half of humanity, for example, hypertension during menopause and during pregnancy. Secondly, according to statistics, 41% of women have pathology. Therefore, vascular hypertension is more often a problem of the weaker sex. The disease is more difficult in the beautiful half. Blood pressure readings are usually higher. This disease is less often recorded in women, although it occurs at a young age.

Pathology coexists with other diseases and aggravates their course. As a result, a woman has a whole "bouquet" of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, varicose veins and metabolic disorders. All this complicates the treatment process.

The role of women in society has changed. In addition to housework and child-rearing, he also puts more male responsibilities on her shoulders. More women are engaged in career, business, and sometimes support the family. Hence tension, stress and overload. And this does not lead to improvement of health, on the contrary, it worsens it. Remember that the tendency to hypertension is hereditary. Therefore, women whose relatives have high blood pressure on a straight upward line should not forget about prevention and regular examination.

Finally, female hypertension causes more problems. This causes more complications, for example, often women in old age develop a stroke against the background of the disease. The heart also suffers. Women should not neglect treatment and should be more attentive to well-being. It is important not to miss the first harbingers of a developing disease.

Hypertension during pregnancy

As a rule, it appears in the second trimester. It manifests itself at 20-21 weeks of pregnancy and may disappear after the birth of the baby. All women with high blood pressure are at risk of placental insufficiency and preeclampsia. With open hypertension in pregnant women, the delivery tactics also change, and a prescription for caesarean section is possible.

Methods of treatment of hypertension

It is carried out with the help of medical preparations. They are able to temporarily relieve the main symptoms, but the disease is not cured. Almost all treatment methods are aimed at reducing the risk of developing serious complications such as stroke and heart attack, as well as improving the patient's quality of life.

Modern treatment is not aimed at reducing pressure, but at eliminating the cause of the emerging pathology. Antihypertensive drugs do not solve this problem. In order to achieve truly noticeable results, the treatment is strictly individualized, taking into account all the causes of the development of the disease. The etiology of hypertension may be related to dysfunction of the liver and biliary tract. Then acupressure will be effective for treatment. In other cases, high blood pressure is associated with impaired kidney function. It often develops against the background of obesity. Then the patient is prescribed a diet for weight correction and various physiotherapy methods.

Medicines for the treatment of hypertension

Traditional treatment is done with drugs. Constant monitoring of blood pressure is required. It should be stable. Drug groups are used for this. Their action is based on different mechanisms of action, but they all help to reduce pressure.

• potassium antagonists. They close the calcium channels in the walls of the vessel, and the gaps increase.
• Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. In the treatment of hypertension, these drugs block the synthesis of renin, which directly affects the increase in blood pressure.
• B-blockers. These tablets for hypertension reduce the heart rate.
• Diuretics. These are diuretics. They help reduce fluid in the body, which lowers blood pressure.

It is important to understand that it is strictly forbidden to take even new drugs without consulting a doctor. Self-medication is dangerous and ineffective. Only a cardiologist can choose the right treatment.

Diet for hypertension

Pathologists recommend changing the diet. One of the tasks during the treatment of this disease is the normalization of weight and metabolic processes in the body. To do this, follow a number of strict requirements. First, reduce your salt intake. Its main component, sodium, prevents the removal of water from the body. This increases blood volume, which increases blood pressure. Second, they refuse green and black tea. No need to drink coffee. These products cause vasospasm and increase the load on the heart. Try to stay away from fatty foods. Remove butter and sausage from the diet.

It is better to choose herbal products. Eat more vegetables. They are rich in fiber, which helps lower blood cholesterol levels. Dried apricots, carrots, cabbage and beets increase the amount of important mineral elements such as magnesium and potassium in the body. These substances strengthen the walls of blood vessels and heart muscles. Food should be fractional. Divide your daily ration into 5 equal parts. Breaks of no more than 3 hours between meals.

Finally, lifestyle is important in hypertension. Avoid alcohol and smoking. Eliminate all convenience foods and fast foods from your diet. Don't be hungry! With hypertension, strict diets are not allowed, stress is contraindicated for the body.

Treatment with folk remedies

The positive side of such drugs is that they have been tested by time and several generations. Phytotherapy helps a lot in treatment. Sedative herbs that have a calming effect on the body are used. This plant group includes hawthorn, chamomile, valerian, lemon balm, mint. Lemon, honey and rose hips also help lower blood pressure. Green tea helps a lot. A few recipes that help in the treatment of hypertension:

1. Honey is mixed with lemon and beet juice (liquid ratio 1: 1). Mix well and drink a third of the glass an hour after eating.
2. Of all the herbs, hawthorn is especially helpful. Tincture is taken 10 drops every morning.
3. Lowers blood pressure well - cranberry. It is enough to eat a glass of this berry in the morning.
4. Equal amounts of lemon balm, peppermint and valerian are steamed in a water bath. Drink half a glass of this infusion five times a day. It has a calming and relaxing effect.

Diabetes and hypertension

Pathologies are related to each other. They have a mutually reinforcing effect aimed at disrupting the function of several target organs at once. Tests for hypertension complicated by diabetes mellitus often show damage to the brain vessels and retina of the eyes, heart and kidneys. In this scenario of disease progression, the main cause of death is often coronary heart disease, heart attack and kidney failure.

It is important to identify hypertension at an early stage for diabetes. This will allow you to prescribe the appropriate treatment and prevent serious complications from the kidneys and cardiovascular system.

Prevention of hypertension

It is especially suitable for blood relatives of people with this disease in a straight line (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather). After 30 years, even if there are no obvious signs of the development of the disease, it is necessary to undergo regular examinations. Alcohol and smoking are contraindicated for people at risk. They should follow a low-salt and low-fat diet. Physical exercises are important for prevention. You can run, walk, bike. Avoid shocks and stress, you should lead a measured lifestyle.