Every person with this diagnosis must know how blood pressure changes with hypertension. More and more people suffer from this disease. The disease is becoming younger, so everyone needs to understand the principles of life with hypertension: both patients and members of their families. What kind of pressure is life-threatening, how to behave during an attack, does heredity and lifestyle influence the development of the disease? Answering these questions will help prevent many unnecessary problems.
Pressure indicators for hypertension
The main cause of hypertension is the narrowing of the lumen of the walls of blood vessels due to their spasm. This process occurs for a number of reasons: heredity, bad habits, stress, sedentary lifestyle. The main way to diagnose hypertension is to measure blood pressure. Since childhood everyone has known the numbers "120 to 80". They have their own name and meaning. The first number is an indicator during the work of the heart muscle, called systolic blood pressure (SBP). The second indicator evaluates blood pressure between heartbeats, called diastolic blood pressure.
Symptoms of increased blood pressure are palpitations, nausea, shooting pain in the back of the head, dizziness, increased sweating, pain in the heart area, insomnia.
Doctors have derived a direct relationship between blood pressure indicators and the degree of the patient's disease:
- Less than 120/80 are optimal numbers;
- 120–129/80–84 - normal pressure. A diagnosis is made: prehypertension;
- 130–139/85–89: normal-high blood pressure. For hypertension;
- greater than or equal to 140/less than 90 – ISAH is diagnosed;
- 140–159/90–99—grade 1 hypertension;
- 160–179/100–109 —2nd degree;
- 3rd degree - more than 180/110.
The initial stages of the disease are generally asymptomatic. The first signs of the disease appear easily, and the person simply does not notice it, gradually getting used to the symptoms. High blood pressure continues to progress, changing blood vessels and increasing the chance of heart attack, stroke, or kidney problems. If hypertension is a common diagnosis in the family, it is necessary to periodically monitor blood pressure parameters to stop the disease in its initial stage.
How is the diagnosis made?
| Research phases | What is examined? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure measurement | Indicator measurements every 15-30 minutes for several days. | - |
| Medical history | Detailed analysis of complaints and symptoms. | - |
| Physical exam | Temperature and blood pressure measurement, thyroid palpation, skin examination. The condition of the arteries near the surface is evaluated. | Symptoms of a long-term disease: increase in the size of the heart, presence of characteristic noises when listening with a phonendoscope, blurred vision, spots, swelling of the legs. |
| Instrumental methods | Blood and urine for general analysis | - |
| Blood biochemistry | Controls sugar, uric acid, K, Na, cholesterol. | |
| ECG | Angina is detected. | |
| Fundus examination | Symptoms: narrowing of the arteries, microhemorrhages, dilation of the veins. | |
| Ultrasound of the heart | On appointment. | |
| Chest x-ray | The boundaries of the heart muscle are revealed |
What pressure is already dangerous?
Blood pressure indicators dangerous for humans are above 140/90. Depending on the numbers on the tonometer and the degree of change, the patient's condition stabilizes in various ways. Phase 1, when functional changes occur, is characterized by insomnia, fatigue, and headaches. Attacks are short-lived and unstable. After taking sedatives in combination with rest, blood pressure decreases. In the second phase, organic changes appear. To stop the attack, antihypertensive drugs are prescribed. Crises are possible. Kidney function is impaired and vision decreases. The attacks are persistent and long lasting. In the third stage, the indicators are never normal. Organic changes in internal organs and blood vessels can cause stroke, blindness, heart attack and heart failure.
What to do if you suffer from high blood pressure?
How to stabilize blood pressure during an attack:
- Call an ambulance.
- Place a tablet under your tongue to speed up the absorption of the drug.
- Breathe evenly and try not to get nervous.
- To expand the peripheral vessels, you can put mustard plasters on the legs.
As a result, the load on the main vessels is reduced and a feeling of relief appears. The attack should pass gradually, within 2-4 hours, since a sharp increase in "hypertension - low blood pressure" has negative consequences, especially if the patient is elderly. Increased blood pressure can cause panic attacks. Hypertensive patients often suffer from high blood pressure. Tablets help relieve an attack: you need to stop being nervous and follow the doctor's instructions. It is advisable to keep a sheet of paper with the order of actions to be performed during an attack in a visible place in order to carry out everything correctly. This helps to deal with panic and lower blood pressure on your own.
To prevent a crisis, you need to follow the doctor's recommendations.
Prevention
| General recommendations |
|