Age-related characteristics of different periods of life, external and internal causes, changes in hormonal levels, bad habits, as well as psycho-emotional factors can influence changes in blood pressure and lead to its increase. People do not always go to the doctor on time, so high blood pressure takes on a permanent form. The article will tell about the symptoms of hypertension, as well as its differences from hypotension.
First Manifestations
Hypertension is characterized by morphological changes in blood vessels that affect a person's overall well-being. In order to understand whether a person has hypertension and what symptoms are characteristic of this pathology, you need to know the simplest methods of self-diagnosis that will help you correctly respond to an increase in indicators and avoid complications.
High blood pressure is one of the most common diseases. Hypertension occurs in every third person and is characterized by high mortality rates in severe stages. Only complex treatment combining medication and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be successful.
Hypertension is characterized by a gradual, long, sluggish course and is initially characterized by the absence of severe symptoms. At high pressure, the presence of the disease can be indicated by intermittent symptoms, including:
- pain in the occiput or temple area;
- Dizziness;
- hearing loss, ringing in the ears;
- blurred vision;
- tachycardia and chest pain;
- nausea and gag reflex;
- feeling short of breath;
- Fear;
- Irritability;
- sweating or chills;
- recurrent nosebleeds.
The presence of at least one of the above symptoms of high blood pressure in a person, which may be the first, is a reason to consult a general practitioner or therapist for diagnostic and preventive purposes, as the disease can progress to an advanced, untreated condition with such formidable complicationssuch as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.
Characteristics of the symptoms
Arterial hypertension always disappears with a headache in the back of the head or in the temples, which at the beginning of the development of the pathology are well stopped by analgesics. Its occurrence is associated with a change in the lumen of the cerebral vessels in the direction of narrowing. People who suffer from high blood pressure headaches describe them as dull or cramping in the back of the head and sharp, stabbing and throbbing in the temple area.
Tinnitus and hearing loss in high blood pressure can be caused by a malfunction in the vessels of the hearing aid.
Important! The sudden onset of pain in the head is a direct indication of a pressure measurement.
Deterioration of vision in hypertension, in the form of doubling, blinking dots (flies) in front of the eyes, is associated with a lack of blood supply to the retina and impaired function of the optic nerves.
Nausea and gag reflex appear in response to the appearance of headache and dizziness, and the manifestation of frequent heartbeat and pain behind the sternum is caused by disruption in the work of the vessels of the pulmonary circulation. The feeling of lack of air (shortness of breath) is characteristic of high blood pressure and is more common in obese patients of any age.
The frequent occurrence of high blood pressure symptoms can lead to a state of hypertension. And then hyperemia of the skin on the face, anxiety and heart pain will join the above signs of pathology. This condition does not go away on its own and requires emergency therapies.
Important! Periodic symptoms of hypertension prompt the patient to consult a doctor and start treatment. The asymptomatic course of the disease steals valuable time from a person.
tonometer readings
To understand whether the pressure is increasing, it is necessary to periodically measure the indicators with a tonometer in different conditions (well-being, poor), and also to know their norms.
120/80 mm Hg. Art. A range of 10 units from these numbers is not a deviation. Signs of an increase above 140/90 mm Hg. Art. , in combination with headache, nausea, heart pain are considered symptoms of arterial hypertension.
Important! Pressure in a person is always individual, it depends on the body and external causes. "Working tone" - these are the blood pressure values at which the patient feels comfortable. Hypertensive patients know their normal values and control them by taking antihypertensive drugs in good time, which are selected by the attending physician.
Features of the degrees of pathology
Signs of hypertension directly depend on the degree of the height of the indicators, of which there are 3 in hypertension and can be presented in the form of tables:
| degree of hypertension | Systolic Index (mmHg) | Diastolic numbers (mm Hg) | The main symptoms of hypertension |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 degree | 140-160 | 90-100 | They pass without a clear clinic, are characterized by periodic increases, quickly return to normal. Rarely, dizziness, insomnia, a feeling of heaviness in the head with localization in the back of the head are noted. |
| 2 degrees | 160-180 | 100-110 | Pain in the occipital or temporal area is strongly expressed, accompanied by nausea, dizziness, weakness, insomnia. |
| 3 degrees | to 182 and above | over 110 | Unbearable headache (especially in the morning), nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, blurred vision, shortness of breath, sweating, tachycardia, swelling of the lower extremities, thirst, urinary tract disorders. |
The clinic of hypertension in the initial stage can be mild. A person may not even be aware of the increased pressure and processes developing in the vessels for a long time. Early and first signs of high blood pressure are irritability for no apparent reason and increased fatigue.
Symptoms of hypertension in hypertension 2 and 3 degrees with systolic readings over 160 mm. lead to a hypertensive crisis, which is characterized by a pronounced headache of various types, a feeling of nausea, vomiting, blurred vision (fog, shroud) or the flashing of small dots, as well as: tremors in the limbs, rapid pulse, shortness of breath, heart pain, arrhythmia, loss of consciousness.
What is arterial hypertension - all hypertensive patients know this. It's helpful to know how to help yourself or a loved one before an ambulance arrives when an emergency first strikes:
- Place 1 tablet of Validol or Nitroglycerin under the tongue.
- Organize air access, loosen tight clothing and give the patient an elevated position in bed (lifting on pillows).
- Place mustard plasters on the calf muscles.
- Add 30 drops (1 tablespoon) of an alcoholic solution of valerian, motherwort.
- Take a painkiller for a headache and smear whiskey, forehead, neck area and behind the ears with menthol oil.
- You can soak your feet in hot water for 15 minutes.
In addition, doctors recommend doing a simple exercise to restore breathing. To do this, it is recommended to inhale deeply, hold your breath and then exhale very slowly. This should be done 3 to 5 times. The position of the body in this case should be lying.
Important! With untimely support of a patient with a hypertensive crisis, he can develop a stroke or myocardial infarction. Since grades 2 and 3 cannot be cured, the patient must constantly keep the pressure increase under control.
age characteristics
An increase in pressure in people over 50 is often associated with the onset of dysfunction of the heart and blood vessels, arteriosclerosis, anemia, hyperthyroidism and impaired kidney function. There may be shortness of breath, pronounced swelling in the legs, cardiac arrhythmias. Compared to men, women get sick more often.
The symptoms of high blood pressure are always due to age-related changes in the vessels, which lead to a loss of their elasticity. The typical clinical features of hypertension include intermittent claudication, frequent fainting spells, dizziness when changing positions, head noise and a tender symptom behind the breastbone. There is also general malaise, reduced performance and weakness.
Since the growth of indicators can occur in people of different ages, the symptoms of hypertension in adolescents can manifest themselves from the age of 12 (during puberty) and last until the age of 17. This is due to the restructuring of the body and changes in hormone metabolism. Characteristic signs that a teenager has high blood pressure are increased sweating, attacks of strong heartbeat, the presence of tinnitus, dizziness, headaches at any time of the day, insomnia, hot flashes on the skin of the face, discomfort in the epigastric region .
Important! In order to be sure that in this particular case there is a possible pathology of the vessels, it is necessary to measure the pressure in a person several times in a row, preferably every 15 minutes. These indicators should be recorded and necessarily reported to the doctor in order to prescribe appropriate treatment. The doctor decides what medication to take.
If you find several symptoms associated with an increase in blood pressure, you need to see a doctor, undergo an examination and determine the true cause of such a pathology: neoplasms, kidney, endocrine and vascular diseases. Based on the diagnostic data, the functional characteristics of the body, the age group, concomitant diseases and the tendency to allergies, the therapist, neuropathologist and general practitioner prescribe the appropriate treatment.
With hypertension, adrenoblockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, blockers of slow calcium channels are prescribed.
Apply physiotherapy - electrosleep; magnetotherapy; UHF therapy; Infrared laser therapy, as well as traditional medicine. Patients with hypertension are advised to follow a diet and eat enough fruits and vegetables.
Important! Preventive measures to prevent vascular pathologies and the development of hypertension include timely visits to medical examinations, normalization of work and rest, moderation of nutrition, combating excess weight, prevention of stressful situations, the use of sufficient amounts of water, vegetables , fruitsas well as eliminating addiction to nicotine and alcohol (if any).
Differences between high and low pressure
Along with signs of hypertension, the rate of which can increase, there are manifestations of low blood pressure, called hypotension.
A periodic drop in pressure is characterized by indicators below 101/66 mm Hg. Art. It all depends on the age group, so the numbers may vary.
Despite the fact that the presence of an intolerable paroxysmal headache occurs in both hypotension and hypertension, with a decrease in pressure, the following symptoms distinguish high pressure from low pressure:
- Bad health and weakness. From the morning the patient feels weakness and malaise.
- Cold extremities. Hands and feet are constantly cold.
- Noise in the ears (periodic presence).
- Unpleasant sensations in the heart area, tachycardia. Every patient has their own feelings.
- Dizziness and frequent darkening (sometimes double vision) in the eyes. Such symptoms are characteristic not only in the morning, but also during the day.
- Drowsiness during the day, trouble sleeping at night. During the day, patients feel the need to sleep all the time. The peak of activity begins in the evening. The night passes restlessly, sleep is shallow.
- digestive problems. Hypotensive patients often have gastritis, liver problems, constipation, dyspepsia and dysbacteriosis.
The above characteristic symptoms are most common in young people, most of whom are women. The reason for lowering blood pressure is stress, lack of sleep, bad lifestyle, lack of vitamins, strict diets, hormonal disorders, severe physical and mental stress, the presence of some somatic diseases (endocrine, cervical osteochondrosis, liver, kidneys). , VVD, lack of exercise). Persistent depression can be a major cause of low blood pressure.
The first "bells" about the beginning of the development of hypotension appear when a person gets out of bed with difficulty in the morning, feels overwhelmed, irritable and does not get enough sleep. After some time (everyone is purely individual), a headache will appear, which may not go away until lunch.
Here, common symptoms of hypertension are the occurrence of nausea, vomiting, dependence on the weather and fainting, a long asymptomatic course. You can raise low blood pressure by taking special medications, diet therapy, herbal medicine, and a healthy lifestyle.
therapy
Medicines that increase blood pressure include tinctures of Eleutherococcus or ginseng, special medicines. Caffeine has the same effect.
Herbal medicine involves taking decoctions and infusions of herbs from plants such as St. John's wort, lemongrass, ginseng, immortelle, cream of tartar, ginger.
In hypotensive patients, it is acceptable to consume small doses of alcohol. A glass of red wine or 25 g of cognac for a week is good for the body: it dilates the blood vessels and improves blood circulation. A cup of coffee in the morning puts you in a good mood.
Hypotensive patients should sleep enough to feel awake (more than 8 hours a day), get enough exercise, eat a balanced diet, and also engage in moderate exercise (morning exercises, swimming, aerobics, yoga, outdoor games), douching with a contrast mediumperform shower , alternating with massage.
Important! Untreated hypotension after the age of 40 can progress to high blood pressure.
Each person is advised to carefully monitor their blood pressure readings. It is necessary to use the tonometer in a calm state, in good and bad health, after sleep and before the night. It is desirable to record all the indicators, compare them and determine "your" pressure, at which the best working capacity and vital activity is noted.
If the elevated numbers persist for a long time, be sure to see a doctor to protect yourself from fatal complications in the future. Health!