An increase in blood pressure above the age norm is rightly called arterial hypertension.
If the blood pressure rises frequently or for a long time and it is not possible to determine the causes during the examination, then a diagnosis of hypertension is made. If a person has any disease that causes an increase in blood pressure (for example, traumatic brain injury in the past, kidney disease, etc. ), then they are talking about secondary arterial hypertension. However, all cases of high blood pressure in the spoken language are often called hypertension.
Hypertension is known as a "silent killer" because it does not always have obvious symptoms, especially in the early stages. It has been found that 20-30% of the adult population has high blood pressure, although many do not know about their disease for a long time. If hypertension is not treated, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases. The only way to find out if there is a problem
take your blood pressure regularly.
Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels and the heart. With hypertension, blood pressure in the arteries and heart rises too much, leading to premature erosion of 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 is recorded in two dimensions:
- systolic pressure - blood pressure when your heart contracts and pushes blood into your arteries;
- Diastolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes between two strokes.
For example, if your doctor says your blood pressure is "90 over 140", it means your systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg. Art. , and diastolic pressure - 90 mm Hg. Art.
In adults, optimal blood pressure is considered to be less than 120/80 mm Hg. Art. However, the numbers up to 139/89 are in the normal range. According to the results of several measurements, if your blood pressure rises, including 140/90, you have arterial hypertension, which requires additional examination and perhaps treatment.
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 hypertension is to measure your blood pressure. Adults should have their blood pressure measured at least once every five years.
If you are pregnant, it is important to check your blood pressure regularly, even if it is not high. Monitoring blood pressure during pregnancy reduces the risk of complications. High blood pressure in a pregnant woman can cause preeclampsia. This is a dangerous condition where there is a problem with the placenta (the organ that provides blood to the unborn child).
Sometimes symptoms of high blood pressure:
- Headache;
- darkening or double vision;
- nosebleeds;
- shortness of breath.
Such symptoms are seen in people with very high blood pressure. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to serious illness, including stroke and heart attack. If you experience any of these symptoms or high blood pressure, make an appointment with your doctor immediately. If symptoms persist, call an ambulance.
Causes of hypertension (arterial hypertension)
In more than 90% of cases, the cause of high blood pressure cannot be determined. Then hypertension is called primary or primary. Factors that may increase the risk of developing primary hypertension include:
- age: the risk of developing hypertension increases with age;
- there were cases of hypertension in your family (the disease may be hereditary);
- excessive salt in your diet;
- lack of training;
- completeness;
- to smoke;
- alcohol abuse;
- stress.
Known causes of hypertension
About 10% of cases of high blood pressure are the result of a specific disease or specific cause. These conditions are called secondary hypertension. Typical reasons for the increase in pressure in this case:
- kidney disease;
- diabetes;
- narrowing of the blood vessels 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 connective tissues of the body, such as systemic lupus erythematosus;
- birth control pills (oral contraceptives);
- painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- club drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines and crystalline methamphetamine;
- some herbal remedies, herbal supplements.
Diagnosis of hypertension
In order to diagnose arterial hypertension and determine its possible causes, they first resort to a systematic measurement of blood pressure. You can do this yourself by a healthcare professional or using a blood pressure monitor at home.
Healthy people over the age of 40 should have their blood pressure measured at least every five years. If your risk of hypertension is high, you should have your blood pressure checked more often, ideally once a year.
Blood pressure testing is usually easy in most clinics and hospitals. Blood pressure is usually measured with a sphygmomanometer (manometer), stethoscope, cuff, measuring device, air blower and valve.
The cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated to restrict blood flow in the artery. While listening to the pulse with the stethoscope, the cuff is slowly released. Listening to your pulse under a closed cuff ensures a reliable reading of your blood pressure. In addition, automatic (digital) blood pressure monitors that measure blood pressure and pulse using electrical sensors are now widespread.
You should rest for at least five minutes and empty your bladder before you start measuring your blood pressure. You need to sit and not talk during the procedure to read your blood pressure accurately.
If one of the measurements shows high blood pressure, it does not necessarily mean that you have hypertension. Blood pressure levels can fluctuate throughout the day. Blood pressure may rise due to anxiety and stress during a doctor's appointment. In these cases, it is recommended that you measure your blood pressure yourself during the day using a home tonometer. You can get more objective indicators by eliminating the "fear of the white robe".
You can also have blood and urine tests to check for diseases that increase your risk of high blood pressure, such as kidney disease.
Decoding tonometer readings
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is recorded in two ranges:
- systolic pressure - blood pressure when your heart contracts and pushes blood into your arteries;
- Diastolic pressure is the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes between two strokes.
For example, if your systolic blood pressure is 140 mm Hg. Art. , and diastolic blood pressure is 90 mm Hg. Art. , then they say your blood pressure is 90 to 140.
Ideally, blood pressure should be less than 120/80. However, values below 140/90 are generally considered normal. If you have kidney, diabetes, heart or circulatory disease, your target blood pressure should be below 130/80 mmHg. Art.
If your blood pressure is above 140/90 in a few days, you have high blood pressure and need additional testing.
Treatment of high blood pressure
Effective measures to lower blood pressure include lifestyle changes and medications. The choice of treatment regimen will depend on your blood pressure levels and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
If your blood pressure is slightly above 130/80 mm Hg. Art. , and at the same time the risk of developing cardiovascular disease is low, then you should be able to lower blood pressure only by making certain changes in your lifestyle.
If your blood pressure is moderately high (140/90 mmHg or higher) and you are at risk for heart disease over the next 10 years, treatment may include medication and lifestyle changes.
If your blood pressure is very high (180/110 mmHg or higher), you will need treatment soon, depending on your health condition, perhaps with additional tests.
Lifestyle in hypertension
Below are some changes you can make in your lifestyle to lower your blood pressure. Some of them will improve rapidly in a few weeks, while others will take effect over a longer period of time.
- Reduce salt intake to less than 6 grams per day.
- Eat healthy, low-fat, balanced foods, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Stay active: Being physically active is one of the key things you need to do to prevent or control hypertension.
- Reduce alcohol intake.
- Quit smoking. Smoking significantly increases your chances of developing lung and heart disease.
- Lose weight.
- Drink less caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea or cola. Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can increase your blood pressure.
- Try relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation and stress management (autogenic exercise).
The more healthy habits you adopt, the more positive it will have. In practice, some people find that by following a healthy lifestyle, they do not need to take medication at all.
Drug treatment of hypertension
There are many blood pressure medications available. You may need to take more than one type of medication to treat hypertension, as a combination of medications is sometimes required.
In some cases, you will have to take blood pressure medication for life. However, if your blood pressure stays under control for several years, you can stop the medication. Most high blood pressure medications can cause side effects, but changing the medication you are taking can solve the problem.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following common medication side effects:
- feeling drowsy;
- pain in the kidneys (lumbar region);
- dry cough;
- dizziness, exhaustion, or lethargy;
- rash on the skin.
The following are the most commonly used medications for high blood pressure.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitorslowers blood pressure by relaxing the walls of blood vessels. The most common side effect is persistent dry cough. If side effects start to bother you, it may be recommended to take medications such as angiotensin-2 receptor antagonists, which act similarly to ACE inhibitors.
ACE inhibitors can cause unexpected side effects when taken with other medications, including over-the-counter medications. Before taking any additional medication, consult your doctor to find out if the combination causes side effects.
Calcium channel blockers(calcium antagonists) prevent calcium from entering the cells of the heart and blood vessels and muscle tissue. This causes your arteries (large blood vessels) to dilate and your blood pressure to drop.
Drinking grapefruit juice while taking certain types of calcium channel blockers may increase the risk of side effects. You can discuss this with your doctor for more information.
Diuretics(diuretics) work by removing excess fluid and salt from the body in the urine.
Beta-blockers (beta-blockers)moves by reducing the speed and strength of heart attacks, thus lowering blood pressure. Beta-blockers were a popular drug for high blood pressure, but now they are usually used only when other drugs do not work. This is because beta-blockers are considered less effective than other high blood pressure medications.
Beta-blockers can also interfere with other medications that cause side effects. Consult your doctor before taking other medications with beta-blockers.
Do not abruptly stop taking beta-blockers without talking to your doctor. This can cause serious side effects such as high blood pressure or angina.
Alpha blockers (alpha blockers)usually not recommended as a first choice for high blood pressure if other medications do not work. Alpha blockers relax your blood vessels, greatly facilitating blood flow in the arteries.
Common side effects of alpha blockers include:
- fainting at the first dose of the drug ("effect of the first dose");
- dizziness;
- Headache;
- swelling of the ankles;
- tiredness.
Complications of hypertension
High blood pressure puts extra stress on your heart and blood vessels. Untreated hypertension increases your risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease over time.
Cardiovascular disease in hypertension
Hypertension can cause many different diseases of the heart and blood vessels and coronary arteries (cardiovascular disease), including:
- stroke;
- myocardial infarction;
- embolism: occurs when a blood clot or air bubble obstructs blood flow in a vein;
- Aneurysm: develops when the wall of a blood vessel stretches and can rupture at any time and cause internal bleeding.
Kidney disease and high blood pressure
Hypertension can also damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys and disrupt their function. This complication can cause the following symptoms:
- tiredness;
- swelling of the ankles, feet or hands (due to water retention in the body);
- shortness of breath;
- presence of blood in the urine;
- frequent urination, especially at night;
- itchy skin.
Kidney disease is treated with drugs and supplements. In more severe cases, dialysis (a medical procedure in which the blood is artificially cleared of toxic metabolic products from the body) or a kidney transplant is required.
Prevention of high blood pressure
Hypertension can be prevented by eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol intake, and not smoking.
Smoking alone does not cause high blood pressure, but it significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Smoking also causes narrowing of the arteries, such as high blood pressure. If you smoke during your hypertension, your arteries will narrow much faster and your risk of heart and lung disease in the future will increase significantly.
High pressure power supply
Reduce the amount of salt in your diet, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Salt raises blood pressure. The more salt you take in, the higher your blood pressure. Aim to take less than 6 grams of salt a day, which is about the same as a teaspoon.
Eating low-fat, high-fiber foods (such as whole grain rice, bread, and pasta) and plenty of fruits and vegetables can help lower blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber that keep your body healthy. Aim to eat five servings of 80 grams of fruits and vegetables every day.
Drinking more than the legal limit on a regular basis will cause your blood pressure to rise over time. It is not recommended for men to consume more than 2-4 servings of alcohol per day, and for women to consume more than 2-3 servings per day. Regular use means every day or most days of the week. 1 serving of alcohol is equivalent to about a glass of vodka, half a glass of wine or half a beer.
Also, because alcohol is high in calories, regular consumption of alcohol can lead to weight gain and, accordingly, an increase in your blood pressure.
Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can cause high blood pressure. If you are a big fan of caffeine, tea or other caffeinated beverages (e. g. Coca-Cola and some energy drinks), consider reducing it. It is very good when you drink tea and coffee as part of a balanced diet, but it is important that such drinks are not your only source of fluid.
Weight and exercise for hypertension
Being overweight forces the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body, which usually results in an increase in your blood pressure. If you really need to lose weight, keep in mind that even losing two to three kilograms of weight will significantly change your blood pressure and improve your overall health.
An active lifestyle and regular exercise lower blood pressure by keeping the heart and blood vessels in good condition. Regular exercise also helps you lose weight, which in turn helps lower your blood pressure.
An adult should exercise at least 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) each week in moderate-intensity outdoor activities such as cycling or brisk walking. When exercising, you should be guided by the fact that you need to be warm and breathe a little. For a crowded person, a short walk on the hill may be enough to reach this situation. Physical activity can range from sports to walking and gardening.
Rest exercises can lower blood pressure. They include:
- Stress management (autogenic training), meditation or yoga.
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy, which focuses on how your thoughts and beliefs can affect your well-being and your ability to cope with problems. You can discuss this type of psychotherapy with your doctor.
- Biofeedback: A small monitor that shows you your heart rate or blood pressure in real time. An application for a biofeedback can be made by your doctor.
Which doctor should I see for hypertension?
If you have high blood pressure, find a good therapist who can understand the causes of the disease and prescribe treatment. If you have heart problems or chronic cardiovascular disease, choose a cardiologist.