Symptoms and treatment of hypertension

According to the World Health Organization, hypertension is one of the most common diseases. Hypertension occurs in one in three people and is characterized by high mortality rates in severe stages. Only complex treatment that combines medication and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be successful.

What is hypertension

What is hypertension is a chronic disease, a pathology of the cardiovascular system. It develops as a result of a disruption in the work of the higher centers responsible for the functionality of blood vessels. Dangerous complications of hypertension and accompanied by internal diseases.

One of the main manifestations of the disease is hypertension (blood pressure), which decreases only after taking special and strong drugs.

Hypertension refers to the pressure of 140/90 mm Hg. and higher if confirmed during two medical visits.

Hypertension is divided into several types:

• Essential arterial hypertension,
• Symptomatic arterial hypertension,
• chronic hypertension,
• Vascular hypertension.

Symptomatic or secondary hypertension accounts for only 10% of all reported cases of the disease. Hypertensive syndrome - the second name of the disease - very often accompanies systemic lupus erythematosus, urolithiasis, anomaly and tumors of the kidneys, ischemia, toxicosis in late pregnancy, renal tuberculosis. Despite the fact that hypertension does not have its own signs and characteristics, it severely aggravates the underlying disease.

Essential hypertension is an independent form of the disease.

Chronic hypertension is usually caused by an excess of calcium in the blood, infectious (transformed into chronic) diseases, diabetes mellitus, and heredity. It manifests itself in the form of nervousness, distraction, fatigue and weakness, frequent numbness of the arms and legs, speech disturbances, left ventricular hypertrophy, and frequent pains in the heart region.

How does hypertension develop?

The mechanism of the development of hypertension is as follows: in response to a stressor, a violation of tone regulation occurs in the peripheral vessels. The result is a spasm of the arterioles and the formation of a dyscirculatory and dyskinetic syndrome. The secretion of neurohormones in the aldosterone system is significantly increased. This causes a delay in the vascular bed of sodium and water, which increases the volume of blood circulation and increases pressure. During the disease, the viscosity of the blood also increases, which leads to a decrease in the speed of the metabolic process in the tissues. The walls of the vessels increase in size, the space between them narrows, which affects blood flow. A high level of resistance in the periphery makes the disease irreversible. As a result of increased permeability and impregnation of the walls of blood vessels with blood plasma, arteriosclerosis and ellastofibrosis develop, and this leads to severe changes in the tissues of some organs.

Spontaneously, hypertension cannot occur in humans. Usually, hypertension is preceded by vegetative-vascular dystonia (VD), a frequent companion of which are varicose veins.

Varicose veins and hypertension are related: the increased activity of the vessel walls in SVD leads to a decrease in their diameter. The resistance of the vessel wall to blood flow increases, which increases blood pressure. Varicose veins are characterized by thickening of the vessel wall, the formation of pockets and constrictions inside, which interfere with normal blood flow. Diseased veins can no longer cope with blood flow, which leads to the formation of edema in the tissues and chronic stagnation in the veins. This can turn into the development of gangrene, sepsis and even death.

Disease classification

Hypertensive disease differs in causes of increased pressure, organ damage, blood pressure level, and course. The disease can be benign or slowly progressive or rapidly progressive - malignant. More important is the classification according to the level and stability of the pressure. To distinguish:

• Normal GB (up to 129/85 mm Hg),
• edge (up to 140/90 mm Hg),
• 1st degree hypertension (up to 160/100 mm Hg),
• 2 degrees (up to 180/110 mm Hg),
• 3 degrees (over 180/110 mm Hg).

Benign hypertension has three phases. The first or slight is characterized by pressure increases up to 180-104 mm Hg, but after a short rest it returns to normal. Some people complain of headaches, sleep problems, fatigue, and reduced performance. However, in most cases, the mild phase proceeds without pronounced individual symptoms.

The second or intermediate stage is characterized by a pressure of up to 200-115 mm Hg. at rest. It is accompanied by severe and throbbing pains in the head, dizziness, pain in the region of the heart. During the examination, damage to the heart is detected. Sometimes subendocardial ischemia is detected. Cerebral stroke, transient ischemia of the brain are possible.

The third or severe stage is accompanied by a stable and strong increase in pressure. At the beginning of the phase, the increase in pressure is intermittent and usually occurs after physical exertion, as well as changes in atmospheric pressure, emotional upheavals. Normalization is possible after myocardial infarction or stroke. After a heart attack, headless hypertension often occurs. That is, a state in which only the systolic or pulse pressure decreases.

Reasons for the development of the disease

The causes of hypertension lie in the violation of the regulatory activity of the main parts of the central nervous system, which control the work of all internal organs. Frequent overload and overwork, both physical and mental, long-term, constant and strong unrest, stress can lead to development.

Even working at night, often being in a noisy environment, can trigger illness.

The risk group includes lovers of salty foods. Salt causes spasms of the arteries and prevents the fluid from being removed. An important role is played by heredity. The likelihood of the disease occurring increases if hypertension is present in two or more relatives.

Some diseases also provoke the development of hypertension. These include:

• Diseases of the adrenal glands and kidneys,
• thyroid disease,
• Obesity,
• diabetes diabetes,
• Tonsillitis,
• Atherosclerosis.

Among women in the highest risk group, those in menopause. This is due to hormonal changes in the body, emotional exacerbations, nervous reactions. It is during menopause that about 60% of all diseases in women occur.

In men, age and gender determine the increased risk. Hypertension at the age of 20 and 30 develops in about 9% of men. At the age of 40, the percentage rises to 35, and after 65 - already 50%. Hypertension is more common in males under the age of 40 than in females. In the older age group, the ratio changes, which is explained by a large percentage of male mortality from complications.

The causes of hypertension lie in hypodynamics and bad habits. The components of tobacco smoke cause blood vessels to spasm and damage the thin walls of the arteries. Physical inactivity is accompanied by a slow metabolism, and in the event of an increase in load, an untrained heart gets tired many times faster.

Symptoms

The clinic of hypertension in the early stages can be mild. A person for a long time may not even be aware of the increased pressure and processes developing in the vessels. The first and first signs of hypertension are irritability for no apparent reason and increased fatigue.

Symptoms of hypertension in the early stages: neurotic disorders, weakness, sleep disturbances, noise and ringing in the ears and dizziness, heart palpitations.

People notice a decrease in efficiency, a loss of concentration. There is a shortness of breath. Headache with hypertension appears most often in the morning in the temporal and occipital region. By the end of the day and in the supine position it can increase. They are associated with a violation of the tone of the venules and arterioles. Symptoms of hypertension include pain in the heart area. This is due to the increased work of the heart muscle to overcome the increasing resistance. As a result, a dissociation occurs between the needs and capabilities of the myocardium, which leads to angina pectoris.

Signs of later hypertension are the veil and flicker of "flies" in front of the eyes, as well as other photopsies. They are explained by spasms of the arterioles of the retina. Malignant hypertension can be accompanied by haemorrhages in the retina, which lead to blindness. In rare cases, the symptoms of hypertension are manifested by vomiting, swelling of the hands and numbness of the fingers, chills, in the morning - heaviness in the eyelids and swelling of the face, excessive sweating.

Complications during hypertension

Complications of hypertension:

• Hypertensive crisis,
• visual impairment,
• Circulatory disorders in the brain
• nephrosclerosis,
• subarachnoid hemorrhage,
• Dissecting aortic aneurysm,
• bradicadia,
• Damage to target organs (kidneys, heart, brain, veins and arteries, fundus vessels),
• Hypertensive cardiomyopathy (HLH, left ventricular hypertension)
• Hypertonic angiodystonia.

Hypertensive crisis

First you need to understand what a hypertensive crisis is. This term refers to an acute and significant increase in blood pressure, which is accompanied by symptoms characteristic of the disease. In addition to hypertension, it can be caused by:

• Chronic and acute glomerulonephritis,
• Toxicosis in late pregnancy,
• renovascular hypertension,
• benign brain tumors,
• heavy metal poisoning,
• Kidney failure.

Crises can be caused by hormonal imbalances and sudden changes in the weather. One of the most common causes is psycho-emotional trauma. Symptoms: severe and intense headache, nausea with urge to vomit, dizziness, fainting, short-term blindness and other visual disturbances, weakness, mood swings, crying. Brain symptoms:

• vasospasm,
• Violation of the permeability of the vascular walls,
• Entry of blood plasma into the medulla, which leads to edema.

In the early stages of the disease, the seizures are mild and of short duration.

The danger of a crisis in the possible development:

• retinal detachment,
• hit,
• Acute pulmonary edema
• cardiac asthma,
• heart attack,
• Angina.

Complications of hypertension pose a serious threat to human life and require regular monitoring by a doctor.

Bradicadia

A frequent and dangerous complication of hypertension. It manifests itself depending on the form. The mild form can go unnoticed. Severe, often and prolonged dizziness with hypertension may indicate a pronounced form of the disease. Also, symptoms include: semi-fainting and frequent fainting, sudden changes in pressure. The severe form is accompanied by fainting and short-term cardiac arrest. Treatment of bradycardia with hypertension can be done with homeopathic and medicinal remedies. Usually prescribed diuretics, alpha-blockers, nifedicipine. From homeopathy, calendula, St. John's wort, strawberries, shakers are prescribed.

Complications include the following syndromes in hypertension:

• myocardial damage,
• kidney damage,
• vascular encephalopathy,
• High blood pressure syndrome.

Associated clinical conditions: ischemic stroke, CHF, coronary revascularization, renal insufficiency, arteriopathy, papilledema.

Target organ damage

A heart

Most often, left ventricular hypertrophy develops. This happens because the heart muscle has to push the blood into the deformed vessels with great effort. Such work leads to thickening of the muscle wall and a lack of blood circulation. This is dangerous with muscle fatigue and heart fatigue. Another pathology is a violation of the diastolic function of the lzh. The increasing fatigue of the heart muscle leads to a time when it fails to take a relaxed position. The thickened wall cannot relax during the diastolic phase, in which oxygen saturation normally occurs. All this leads to the third pathology - chronic insufficiency. It develops due to the constant lack of oxygen. It is very difficult to cure the disease, and in combination with other pathologies, it leads to death.

Ships

Arterial vessels in hypertension are in a constant state of narrowing due to the contraction of the muscle layer. This leads to the fact that the vessels stop relaxing, and the muscle tissue is replaced by connective tissue. This is called vascular remodeling. Vision loss, peripheral atherosclerosis of the extremities and other diseases are associated with this complex and irreversible consequence.

Brain

Hemorrhage causes nearly 25% of all strokes. And hypertension is the leading cause of bleeding, which has a high death rate. Insufficient blood supply to the brain leads to ischemic stroke. This complication accounts for over 70% of cases. It is caused by the narrowing of the cerebral arteries or the obstruction of the canal by a thrombus. Another pathology is hypertensive encephalopathy. This is an emergency condition, accompanied by severe headache, high blood pressure, neurological symptoms. If you run high blood pressure, there is a possibility of developing cognitive impairment and dementia. These are changes in the subcortical substance and brain atrophy, which are responsible for violations of thought processes.

kidneys

One of the most common complications is microalbuminuria. The first sign of kidney damage is the development of kidney failure. Chronic renal failure is characterized by the loss of the kidneys' ability to remove metabolic products from the blood.

Diagnosis of the disease

Effective treatment of hypertension is possible only with early diagnosis and compliance with all rules and recommendations. High blood pressure is not always an indicator of hypertension, it can be situational. And with repeated visits to the doctor it is not detected. A single blood pressure measurement may not reveal the disease: with recurring symptoms, it is necessary to measure blood pressure in dynamics. After making a diagnosis, doctors make a differential diagnosis to determine the symptomatic form of the disease.

Pressure measurement

To determine the degree and presence of the disease, dynamic pressure measurement is used. It takes place as follows: the atmosphere should be comfortable and calm. Measurements begin no earlier than ten minutes after the patient begins hospitalization. One hour before the visit, smoking, the intake of food and alcoholic beverages (tea, coffee, alcohol), any physical activity, the use of eye drops or nasal drops are excluded. During the first treatment, blood pressure readings are taken from both of the patient's hands, with a second measurement after 2 minutes.

With a difference in readings of over 5 mm Hg. continue measurements on the high pressure arm.

Treatment of hypertension

How to treat hypertension depends on the stage of the disease, complications, age and many other parameters. Medical treatment options are selected by the attending physician. The desire to fight the disease alone can turn into dire consequences. Modern treatment of hypertension begins with non-drug methods that increase the effectiveness of drugs several times. You need to start by establishing a daily routine, relieving stress, do not forget about exercise and long walks. An important point about dealing with hypertension is diet. The patient must refuse or significantly reduce salt intake, drink less, completely eliminate alcoholic beverages and coffee. If you follow all the recommendations, you can avoid drug treatment of the disease.

In treatment, it is important not only how to deal with hypertension, but also how to eliminate the causes of hypertension.

Usually drugs are used for treatment:

• diuretic,
• Inhibitors
• Type 2 receptor antagonists
• Calcium channel blockers.

Blood Pressure Medicines - Prescription Only

homeopathic treatment

Considering the question of how to get rid of hypertension, it is worth paying attention to homeopathic remedies. They are usually recommended when the target organs are already affected. Homeopathy for hypertension has an important advantage - a mild effect. Medicines have no contraindications or side effects. The downside is that the treatment with homeopathic remedies is rather slow. When choosing this method, consider:

• Homeopathic medicines are prescribed simultaneously with medicines,
• Combine medications and a healthy lifestyle
• With a medium degree of risk, this type is often the only one possible.

Inpatient treatment of hypertension

Inpatient treatment is usually admitted with a complicated hypertensive crisis:

• Acute hypertensive encephalopathy,
• cardiac asthma,
• pulmonary edema,
• Acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina and myocardial infarction),
• aortic aneurysm,
• Severe arterial bleeding
• Eclampsia.

Upon admission, the doctors of the clinic begin to carry out the main diagnostic actions:

• Every 15 minutes measurement of blood pressure dynamics,
• electrocardiography,
• General analysis of blood and urine,
• echocardiography,
• Biochemical analysis for potassium, sodium, urea, calcium, creatinine, fibrinogen, coagulogram,
• Ophthalmoscopy.

In addition, the patient should be prescribed an appointment with a neurologist, Reberg's test and rheoencephalography, as well as determining the type of cerebral hemodynamics. While in the hospital, inpatient treatment depends on the presence of complications, the severity of the attack, and other diseases. First aid is aimed at reducing the activity of the left heart ventricle and eliminating symptoms such as:

• peripheral vasoconstriction,
• cerebral ischemia,
• Heart failure.

Of great importance in the treatment of a complicated attack is the introduction of antihypertensive drugs, hospitalization in intensive care and regular monitoring of blood pressure.

Non-drug treatment of a hypertensive state includes an increase in immunity, cleansing of the body, massage, gymnastics and diet. It is important to follow the instructions of doctors and not to violate the established regimen.

How to live with hypertension

How long do people live with hypertension is an important question for those diagnosed with it. The consequences of the disease depend on the stage and nature of its course. The severe form, vascular damage, the third stage of the disease and the disruption of target organs worsen the prognosis. Premature death occurs from heart attacks and strokes, acute heart failure. Unfavorable prognosis for those who fall ill at an early age.

The life expectancy of hypertensive patients depends not only on the correctness of taking medications and regular visits to the doctor, but also on personal attitude and compliance with the basic rules. These include:

• psychological climate,
• Diet,
• Exercise,
• No bad habits.

Another important condition is to understand what kind of disease it is, how it develops and what consequences it has on the whole body. To understand the features of the course of the disease, it is not necessary to have a medical education. There are many good books and manuals written for ordinary people. One of these is "Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases" by A. Yakovlev. The book briefly and clearly outlines the main provisions on hypertension, as well as the most popular treatment regimens for hypertension.

Psychological climate

Having figured out how to treat hypertension and choosing a method of treatment, it is necessary to move on to an equally important issue - a healthy lifestyle. It is impossible when working at night, frequent quarrels, constant and long-distance business trips, strong emotional stress, negative emotions, fears, anger. All these conditions are accompanied by the production of adrenaline in large quantities, which leads to disruption of the circulatory and nervous systems. It is important to control your emotions, think more positively, and exclude any sources of stress from your environment. Herbal teas, meditations, walks, doing what you love will help with this.

By creating the most comfortable conditions around you, a person increases the chances of recovery.

Diet

Overweight and hypertension are incompatible. Even if there are no extra pounds, treatment begins with nutritional correction. In the early stages, this is enough to control the pressure and prevent it from rising. There are several ways to lose weight with hypertension. The main one is calorie restriction. This can be achieved by eliminating or reducing the daily diet of sweet and fatty foods, flour products. A weight loss diet should not be confused with fasting: it is forbidden for hypertensive patients. To lose weight and normalize blood pressure, you should also monitor the amount of animal fat in food. It is necessary to exclude foods rich in cholesterol as much as possible, as well as switch to low-fat varieties of fish, fruits and vegetables and natural vegetable oils. It is worth completely abandoning sausages, lard, fried meatballs and fatty meats, butter, fatty cheeses.

Contraindications for hypertension: drinks and foods that excite the nervous system. These include not only tea, coffee and alcohol, but also carbonated drinks, hot spices, fragrant spices.

It is important to include foods rich in potassium and magnesium in the diet. These elements have a good effect on the heart muscle, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and the nervous system. A lot of potassium is found in:

• plums,
• apricots,
• cabbage,
• pumpkin,
• Bananas.

Rich in magnesium:

• Buckwheat, oat and millet groats,
• Carrot,
• Beet,
• Blackcurrant,
• Parsley and lettuce leaves
• Walnuts.

An important rule: these products should not be combined with milk. Calcium negatively affects the digestibility of elements.

Exercise

The complications of high blood pressure and the disease itself do not mean that the patient has to give up any activity. Gymnastics, simple exercises, yoga or long walks, swimming are indicated for hypertensive patients. Movement not only brings a charge of positive emotions, but also helps fight excess weight.

You should start with the simplest workouts, gradually increasing the time and complexity of the exercises. This also applies to swimming and walking.

Rehabilitation for third stage hypertension, as well as with complications such as hypertensive stroke, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, should only take place under the supervision of doctors. Usually, for rehabilitation, patients are sent to special resorts, in sanatorium care. Which includes a full range of measures: proper nutrition, physical activity, medications.