Cardiovascular system disorders are one of the most common health problems in humanity. Studies that have been conducted have demonstrated that they are much more common in urban residents than in those who spend most of their time in rural areas. In addition, diseases of this type "rejuvenate", developing in people under 40 years old. One of the most common pathologies of this type is hypertension. It is a regular increase in blood pressure above average.
Hypertension symptoms (signs)
Symptoms of the disease depend on the stage of disease development. Normally, blood pressure is in the range of 110-130 over 70-90 mmHg. Depending on the severity of the disease, in critical cases it can increase to 260 to 110. This condition threatens human health and life. At the same time, in the early stages, hypertension can only be manifested by mild discomfort, fatigue, and headaches. As the disease develops, its course also becomes more complicated. The most dangerous condition is hypertensive crisis - skyrocketing blood pressure. General symptoms of the disease are:
- headache, feeling of tightness, especially in the back of the head and temples;
- noise and tinnitus;
- "spot", spot, veil before the eyes;
- decreased vision;
- impaired spatial coordination and fine motor skills;
- tremor, numbness in arms and legs;
- nausea and vomiting.
Signs of hypertension appear at different levels depending on the stage of the disease. The condition worsens gradually, often throughout life. There are three stages of disease development:
- I - with a blood pressure index of 140-160 over 90-100 mmHg;
- II - at a pressure of 160-180 over 100-110 mmHg;
- III - when the upper limit of the second stage is exceeded.
Constantly increased pressure leads to disturbances in the functioning of the heart - the most common consequence of this is the development of coronary artery disease. There is also a risk of developing a heart attack or stroke.
Causes of high blood pressure
The nature of diseases of the cardiovascular system has not been fully studied by experts. A special difficulty lies in the fact that such disorders often form during the period of intrauterine development and appear much later. At the same time, it is not always possible to notice and study the onset of the disease. Most often, hypertension occurs in combination with the following disorders:
- kidney disease;
- vascular disease;
- renal artery obstruction;
- pathology of the thyroid gland;
- disruption in the functioning of the adrenal glands;
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- Insufficient or excessive physical activity.
Such causes cause a secondary form of the disease - that is, a form of the disease that develops under the influence of provoking factors. Signs of high blood pressure often appear after the age of 35 - 40 years old. The main subtype of the disease is caused directly by congenital pathologies of the blood vessels or heart. The following factors also increase the risk of developing high blood pressure:
- age over 55 years old;
- obesity;
- elevated cholesterol levels;
- genetic predisposition;
- diabetes;
- hormonal disorders;
- often stressed and depressed.
Blood pressure levels are directly affected by diet. Some foods - dark chocolate, coffee, alcohol - can increase blood pressure. Saturated fats, spices and sugar affect the condition of blood vessels and the chemical composition of the blood, which also indirectly affects the increase in blood pressure. It has been proven that smoking often leads to illness.
Which doctor should I contact?
Manifestation of symptoms of hypertension requires mandatory medical intervention at the earliest stage. Delay can cause the development of complications and in the future lead to serious conditions such as stroke and heart attack. Timely diagnosis will significantly reduce the risk. Your doctor will help you solve the problem:
One of the most important points in identifying the disease is determining its root cause, especially if hypertension is secondary. In this case, the effectiveness of treatment will not be high if the pathological precursors cannot be eliminated. To deal with it, the doctor will need to determine the clinical picture as clearly as possible. To do this, he will ask the following questions:
- What symptoms are you worried about?
- How long ago did they start appearing?
- How often do hypertensive attacks occur?
- Are they related to any external factors?
- Does the patient have heart, kidney or endocrine disease?
- What kind of life does he live?
- What symptomatic treatment does he use for the attacks?
An external examination will then be performed with auscultation of the heart and measurement of blood pressure. Additionally, laboratory urine and blood tests, hardware testing are ordered, and differential diagnostic tools are used.
Disease treatment methods
Pathological impact diagram based on the cause of hypertension in each individual case. It is also important to consider whether it is of a primary or secondary nature, since the main purpose of the impact depends on this. The totality of this information allows the specialist to develop an optimal treatment plan for each individual. Usually it includes the following steps:
- control body weight through diet;
- perform physical exercises of varying intensity;
- taking diuretics;
- Use of anti-tachycardia drugs;
- taking adrenergic blockers;
- use of antispasmodic and pain relievers;
- Use medications containing potassium.
Treatment regimens are strongly influenced by the stage of the disease. In the first stage, it is sometimes possible to do without medication, while the second and third stages require quite large doses or strong drugs. To treat high blood pressure, use only conservative therapy.
Diagnosis of hypertension
Detecting pathology requires observation over a period of time and continuous monitoring of results. This helps determine whether it is the cause and whether there are related disorders. In this case, differential diagnosis is used. It includes the following stages:
- Measure blood pressure repeatedly. It is performed on both hands, in a sitting or standing position, depending on age. The accuracy is about 85%.
- Daily pressure monitoring is a procedure that allows continuous monitoring over a specified period of time using a handheld device. Cost depends on the monitoring time required. Accuracy exceeds 95%.
- Urine and blood laboratory tests. Determine the quantitative and qualitative composition of fluids and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Accuracy is about 75%.
- Chest X-ray. Allows you to visually assess the condition of the heart. Accuracy - less than 70%.
For possible heart pathologies, an electrocardiogram is indicated. In addition, an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity can be performed to determine the condition of the kidneys and diagnose the fundus if vision is impaired.
Complications may occur
Symptoms of hypertension affect a significant portion of organs and systems that are not directly related to blood circulation. However, overall health depends on the quantity and quality of nutrients and oxygen carried by the fluid stream. Severe hypertensive attacks can cause the following problems:
- vascular deformation;
- coronary heart disease;
- kidney disease;
- risk of stroke and heart attack;
- blurred vision due to damage to eye vessels;
- the development of the "heart and lungs";
- exercise intolerance.
The likelihood of complications varying in severity depends on the stage of the disease. In the early and middle stages, attacks can be supplemented by nosebleeds, bouts of vomiting and tachycardia. If the situation worsens, loss of consciousness, heart failure and damage to the integrity of blood vessels are possible. The most serious conditions are crises, heart attacks and strokes.
Group at risk
Many people ask questions about what type of hypertension is, since the prevalence of this problem is very wide. At the same time, the pathology tends to affect people of working age - from 20 to 45 years old, although a few decades ago this threshold was much higher. Not everyone is equally likely to develop this disorder. The following groups are particularly at risk:
- people with increased body weight and obesity;
- people whose activities are associated with heavy physical activity or, on the contrary, lack of such activity;
- people who are genetically predisposed to high blood pressure;
- living in an area with environmental pollution;
- smokers and alcohol abusers;
- people who do not monitor the fat and carbohydrate content of their food;
- people who have been diagnosed with severe heart, liver or kidney disease.
Pathology does not create a preference between men and women - statistics for both sexes are approximately the same. However, due to more frequent drinking and harsh working conditions, the risk of more vigorous sex is slightly higher. In women, the disease usually develops at the age of 55-60, and in men - at the age of 65-70.
Prevent high blood pressure
Protecting yourself from cardiovascular diseases is not always easy, since many of them are caused by innate characteristics of the body or age. However, preventive measures will still have a positive impact on the situation and health in general. Hypertension can develop due to poor lifestyle choices, so correcting some aspects of it will be beneficial. The recommendations are:
- Timely treatment of all diseases that cause hypertension - heart, blood vessels, blood, kidneys;
- adhere to daily routine;
- Avoid lack of sleep and overwork;
- maintain a healthy diet - avoid foods high in fat and cholesterol, alcoholic beverages, strong tea and coffee;
- perform moderate physical activity and avoid a sedentary lifestyle;
- undergo regular preventive examinations;
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes recommended by your doctor to maintain health.
Hypertension can only be prevented by maintaining the overall health of the body. Several systems influence the formation of this disease, so prevention only with medication or exercise will not be effective. An important stage in its implementation is the timely diagnosis of accompanying and provoking factors.