An increase in pressure above the age norm is correctly called arterial hypertension.
If the pressure rises frequently or over a long period of time and the causes cannot be determined during the examination, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is made. When a person has a medical condition that has caused the pressure to rise (e. g. , a past traumatic brain injury, kidney disease, etc. ), it is called secondary arterial hypertension. Colloquially, however, all cases of high blood pressure are often referred to as high blood pressure.
Hypertension is known as the "silent killer" because it doesn't always have obvious symptoms, especially in its early stages. It has been found that 20-30% of the adult population suffer from hypertension, although many are unaware of their disease for a long time. Hypertension goes untreated, increases your risk of heart attack or stroke. The only way to find out if there's a problem is to
measure blood pressure regularly.
Blood pressure is the force with which blood pushes against the walls of blood vessels and the heart. In hypertension, the blood pressure in the arteries and heart becomes excessive, causing premature wear and tear on these organs and increasing the risk of other diseases, such as kidney or brain damage.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and recorded in two dimensions:
- systolic pressure - blood pressure when your heart is contracting and pushing blood into the arteries;
- The diastolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes between two contractions.
For example, if your doctor says your blood pressure is "140 over 90, " that means your systolic pressure is 140 mmHg. Art. and diastolic pressure - 90 mmHg. Art.
The optimal adult blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. Art. However, values up to and including 139/89 are within the normal range. If, according to the results of several measurements, your pressure exceeds 140/90 inclusive, you have arterial hypertension, additional examination and, possibly, treatment is required.
Symptoms of arterial hypertension (hypertension)
An increase in blood pressure is not always accompanied by a change in well-being. The only way to know for sure if you have high blood pressure is to measure your blood pressure. Adults should have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.
When you are pregnant it is important to check your blood pressure regularly, even if it is not high. Blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy reduces the risk of complications. High blood pressure in a pregnant woman can lead to preeclampsia. This is a dangerous condition that involves a problem with the placenta (the organ that supplies blood to the unborn child).
Sometimes symptoms of high blood pressure are:
- Headache;
- darkening or double vision;
- nosebleeds;
- dyspnea.
Such signs appear in people with very high pressure. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious illnesses such as stroke and heart attack. Make an appointment with your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms or high blood pressure. For severe symptoms, call an ambulance.
Causes of high blood pressure (arterial hypertension)
In over 90% of cases, the cause of the high blood pressure cannot be determined. Then hypertension is called essential or primary. Factors that may increase your risk of developing primary hypertension include:
- Age: The risk of developing high blood pressure increases with age;
- there were cases of hypertension in your family (the disease can be hereditary);
- excess salt in your diet;
- lack of exercise;
- Completeness;
- Smoking;
- alcohol abuse;
- emphasize.
Known causes of high blood pressure
About 10% of hypertension cases are the result of a specific disease or cause. These cases are called secondary hypertension. Typical reasons for the increase in pressure in this case are:
- kidney disease;
- diabetes mellitus;
- narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys;
- hormonal disorders such as Cushing's syndrome (a condition in which the body produces too many steroid hormones);
- Diseases affecting the body's connective tissues, such as systemic lupus erythematosus;
- birth control pills (oral contraceptives);
- pain relievers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- party drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines and crystal methamphetamines;
- some herbal remedies, herbal supplements.
Diagnosis of hypertension
To diagnose arterial hypertension and identify possible causes, they first resort to systematic blood pressure measurement. This can be done by healthcare professionals or you can do it yourself with a home pressure gauge.
Healthy people over the age of 40 should have their blood pressure checked at least every five years. If you are at risk of high blood pressure, you should check your blood pressure more frequently, ideally once a year.
Blood pressure checks are usually easy to do in most clinics and hospitals. Blood pressure is usually measured with a sphygmomanometer (manometer), a device that consists of a stethoscope, cuff, gauge, air pump, and valve.
The cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated to restrict blood flow in the artery. The cuff is then slowly deflated while the pulse is listened to with a stethoscope. Listening to your pulse under the deflated cuff provides a reliable reading of your blood pressure. In addition, automatic (digital) sphygmomanometers that measure pressure and pulse via electrical sensors are now common.
Before you start measuring your blood pressure, you should rest for at least five minutes and empty your bladder. To get an accurate blood pressure reading, you must sit and not speak during the procedure.
If one of the measurements revealed high blood pressure, this does not necessarily mean that you suffer from high blood pressure. Blood pressure readings can fluctuate throughout the day. Pressure can mount during a doctor's appointment due to anxiety and stress. In these cases, it is advisable to measure the pressure yourself with a home tonometer during the day. By eliminating "white coat anxiety, " you can get more objective indicators.
You may also have blood and urine tests to look for conditions that increase your risk of high blood pressure, such as: B. Kidney disease.
Deciphering the readings of the tonometer
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and recorded in two zones:
- systolic pressure - blood pressure when your heart is contracting and pushing blood into the arteries;
- The diastolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes between two contractions.
For example, if your systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg. Art. , and the diastolic blood pressure is 90 mm Hg. Art. , then they say your pressure is 140 over 90.
Ideally, blood pressure should be less than 120/80. However, readings below 140/90 are generally considered normal. If you have kidney disease, diabetes, heart or circulatory disease, your target blood pressure should be below 130/80 mmHg. Art.
If pressure readings are above 140/90 for several days, you have arterial hypertension and further evaluation is needed.
treatment of high blood pressure
Effective measures to lower blood pressure include lifestyle changes and medications. The choice of treatment regimen depends on your blood pressure and your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
If your blood pressure is slightly above 130/80 mmHg. Art. , and at the same time your risk of cardiovascular disease is low, then you should only be able to reduce the pressure by making certain lifestyle changes.
If your blood pressure is moderately high (140/90 mmHg or higher) and you are at risk of developing heart disease within the next 10 years, treatment includes medication and lifestyle changes.
If your blood pressure is very high (180/110 mmHg or higher) you will soon need treatment, possibly with additional tests, depending on your health condition.
Hypertension lifestyle
Below are some of the lifestyle changes you can make to lower your blood pressure. Some of them bring about rapid improvement within a few weeks, while others work over a longer period of time.
- Reduce your salt intake to less than 6 grams per day.
- Eat a healthy, balanced, low-fat diet, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Stay Active: Staying physically active is one of the most important things you should do to prevent or control high blood pressure.
- Reduce your alcohol consumption.
- Stop smoking. Smoking greatly increases your chances of developing lung and heart disease.
- Lose weight.
- Drink less coffee, tea or other caffeinated drinks like cola. Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can raise your blood pressure.
- Try relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, and stress management (autogenic training).
The more healthier habits you adopt, the greater the positive effect. In practice, some people find that by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, they don't need to take any medication at all.
Drug treatment of high blood pressure
There are a variety of blood pressure medications. You may need to take more than one type of medication, as sometimes a combination of medications is needed to treat high blood pressure.
In some cases, you will need to take blood pressure medication for the rest of your life. However, if your blood pressure remains under control for several years, you may be able to stop the drug treatment. Most high blood pressure medications can cause side effects, but this problem can be solved by changing the medications you are taking.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following common side effects of medicines:
- feel sleepy;
- pain in the kidney area (in the lumbar region);
- dry cough;
- dizziness, fatigue or lethargy;
- rash on the skin.
Below are the most commonly used medications for high blood pressure.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitorslower blood pressure by relaxing the walls of blood vessels. The most common side effect is a persistent dry cough. If the side effects start to bother you, you may be advised to take medications like angiotensin-2 receptor antagonists, which work similarly to ACE inhibitors.
ACE inhibitors can cause unexpected side effects when taken with other medicines, including over-the-counter medicines. Before starting any additional medication, ask your doctor if the combination has any negative side effects.
calcium channel blockers(calcium antagonists) prevent calcium from entering the cells of the muscle tissue of the heart and blood vessels. This dilates your arteries (large blood vessels) and lowers your blood pressure.
Drinking grapefruit juice while taking certain calcium channel blockers may increase your risk of side effects. For more information, you can discuss this issue with your doctor.
diuretics(diuretics) work by removing excess fluid and salt from the body in the urine.
Beta blockers (beta blockers)work by reducing the frequency and force of heart contractions, thereby lowering blood pressure. Beta blockers used to be a popular medication for high blood pressure, but today they are usually only used when other medications are ineffective. This is because beta-blockers are considered less effective than other types of high blood pressure medications.
Also, beta-blockers can interfere with other medications and cause side effects. Ask your doctor before taking other medicines in combination with beta-blockers.
Don't suddenly stop taking beta-blockers without talking to your doctor. This can lead to serious side effects such as high blood pressure or angina pectoris.
Alpha blockers (alpha blockers)are generally not recommended as a first choice for high blood pressure unless other medications are not working. Alpha blockers work by relaxing your blood vessels, making blood flow in them much easier.
Common side effects of alpha blockers include:
- fainting at the first dose of the drug ("first dose effect");
- Dizziness;
- Headache;
- swelling of the ankles;
- Fatigue.
Complications of hypertension
High blood pressure puts additional strain on your heart and blood vessels. Left untreated, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease over time.
Cardiovascular disease in hypertension
High blood pressure can cause many different diseases of the heart and the blood vessels and vessels of the heart (cardiovascular diseases), including:
- Stroke;
- Heart attack;
- Embolism: occurs when a blood clot or air bubble blocks blood flow in a vessel;
- Aneurysm: occurs when the wall of a blood vessel stretches and can rupture at any time, causing internal bleeding.
kidney disease and high blood pressure
High blood pressure can also damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys and affect their function. This complication can cause the following symptoms:
- Fatigue;
- swelling of the ankles, feet or hands (due to water retention in the body);
- dyspnea;
- the presence of blood in the urine;
- frequent urination, especially at night;
- itching of the skin.
Kidney disease is treated with medication and dietary supplements. More severe cases require dialysis (a medical procedure that artificially cleans the blood of toxins in the body) or a kidney transplant.
Prevention of hypertension
High blood pressure can be prevented by eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, and not smoking.
Smoking alone does not cause high blood pressure, but it does significantly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Smoking, like high blood pressure, narrows the arteries. If you smoke while you have high blood pressure, your arteries narrow much faster and your risk of developing heart and lung disease in the future increases significantly.
Power supply under high pressure
Reduce the amount of salt in your diet, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Salt increases blood pressure. The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure. Try to eat less than 6 grams of salt per day, which is about a teaspoon.
Eating low-fat, high-fiber foods (like brown rice, bread, and pasta) and plenty of fruits and vegetables has been shown to help lower blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber that keep your body healthy. The goal is to eat five 80g servings of fruit and vegetables every day.
If you regularly drink more than the legal limit, your blood pressure will rise over time. Men are not recommended to regularly consume more than 2-4 servings of alcohol per day, and women more than 2-3. Regular use means every day or most days of the week. 1 serving of alcohol is roughly equivalent to a glass of vodka, half a glass of wine, or half a beer.
Since alcohol is also high in calories, regular alcohol consumption leads to weight gain and, accordingly, to an increase in blood pressure.
Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can lead to high blood pressure. If you're a big fan of coffee, tea, or other caffeinated beverages (like Coca-Cola and some energy drinks), consider cutting back. It is very good if you drink tea and coffee as part of a balanced diet, but it is important that such drinks are not your only source of fluids.
Weight and exercise in hypertension
Being overweight forces the heart to work harder to pump blood around the body, which usually causes your blood pressure to rise. If you really need to lose weight, it's important to remember that losing as little as five pounds will significantly change your blood pressure readings and improve your overall health.
An active lifestyle and regular exercise lead to lower blood pressure by keeping the heart and blood vessels in good condition. Regular exercise will also help you lose weight, which will also help you lower your blood pressure.
An adult should spend at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity outdoors, such as bicycling or brisk walking, each week. When exercising, your guide should be to feel warm and slightly out of breath. To reach this state, it may be enough for a full person to walk a little up the hill. Physical activity can include a variety of exercises, from sports to walking and gardening.
Relaxation exercises can lower blood pressure. They include:
- Stress management (autogenic training), meditation or yoga.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on how your thoughts and beliefs can affect your well-being and ability to cope with problems. You can discuss with your doctor the possibility of undergoing such psychotherapy.
- Biofeedback (a self-regulating method that helps you to consciously control your blood pressure): A small monitor shows you your heart rate or blood pressure in real time. Your doctor can refer you to biofeedback.
Which doctor should I contact if I have high blood pressure?
If you have hypertension, find a good therapist who can understand the causes of the disease and prescribe treatment. If you have a heart condition or chronic cardiovascular disease, choose a cardiologist.