Hypertension - what it is, causes, symptoms, signs, treatment and complications. Arterial hypertension (Hypertension)

Hypertension is one of the most common cardiac pathologies, which is currently diagnosed in every third inhabitant of our planet over the age of 45 years. In recent years, the disease has become significantly younger and now it is often possible to see it completely among hypertensive patients. The main danger of the pathological condition lies in its complications. Hypertension can lead to heart attack and stroke, cause rupture of aneurysms of the great vessels, provoke the development of severe impairment of kidney function and a sharp deterioration in the quality of vision.

A person’s blood pressure has an upper, cardiac, or systolic value, as well as diastolic pressure, or its lower, renal level. According to WHO standards, the norm for these indicators should be no more than 139/89 mmHg. Art., otherwise it is customary to talk about hypertension. Early diagnosis and timely treatment of hypertension is a person’s chance to prevent the occurrence of pathological changes in many internal organs, which will allow them to maintain health and enjoy a full life for many years.

Causes

Unfortunately, modern medical science has not yet been able to fully unravel all the probable causes of hypertension, but most of them are known to doctors. Only an experienced specialist can identify which factor led to the development of the disease, who in the diagnostic process uses not only his knowledge, but also the results of numerous studies confirming or refuting the presence of a person.

The main reason for the increase in blood pressure is a violation of the activity of the human sympathetic-adrenaline system, that is, constant irritation of the center responsible for the narrowing of blood vessels in the brain.

This can occur under the influence of numerous exo- as well as endogenous factors that contribute to sudden vasospasm.

Symptoms of hypertension can appear in people with so-called exogenous risk factors for the development of the pathological condition:

frequent stress and severe nervous tension;
poor nutrition;
sedentary lifestyle;
long working hours, night shift work;
regular consumption of large quantities of strong alcoholic drinks and smoking;
drugs;
intense sports activities.

Among the endogenous factors, age and poor heredity come to the fore, when the disease can be transmitted from parents to child. The development of hypertension is also promoted by:

vascular damage by atherosclerosis;
obesity;
metabolic diseases, in particular diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism;
renal diseases;
increased levels of calcium and sodium in the blood;
hormonal changes, which are the most common and menopause.

Classification

Currently, there is more than one classification of hypertension. The disease is usually distinguished by the nature of its course, the presence of complications, causes of development, pressure indicators, and much more.

Modern cardiologists distinguish several degrees of hypertension (depending on the indicators of high blood pressure):

1st degree – pressure rises to 159-140/99-90 mmHg. Art.;
2nd degree - the indicator on the arrows is 179-160/109-100 mm Hg. Art.;
Grade 3 – persistent or periodic increase in pressure more than 180/110 mm Hg. Art.

According to the generally accepted WHO classification, there are the following stages of the disease:

Stage 1 – transient increase in pressure without damage to target organs;
Stage 2 – the presence of signs of damage to internal organs, among which the main target is the heart, blood vessels, eye structures, brain and kidneys;
Stage 3 – a stable increase in blood pressure against the background of the development of complications, from the manifestations of which a person can die.

Hypertensive disease has its own types of course, including:

benign type or indolent variant of hypertension, when the symptoms of the pathology develop very slowly, over decades, and the risk of complications is assessed as minimal;
, in which sharp surges in pressure, damage to target organs and frequent hypertensive crises are recorded (this variant of the disease is difficult to treat with medication).

Symptoms

The disease in the initial stages of its development is practically asymptomatic, which complicates its early detection. In such patients, high blood pressure may be discovered by chance during a medical examination or during a routine appointment at the clinic.

A more complex type of hypertension is characterized by a number of symptoms that significantly worsen a person’s quality of life and are the reason for his or her referral to specialists. The main symptom of the disease is an increase in blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg. Art. This condition provokes, which are the result of a reflex narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain. As a rule, people prone to hypertension complain of the appearance of pain in the back of the head and temples, which is pulsating in nature, characterized by its severity and suddenness of development. Such pain and throbbing do not go away after taking analgesics.

Often, hypertensive patients experience solo dizziness, which can occur after performing simple work. The symptom is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, as well as general malaise due to. Constriction of the vessels of the hearing aid causes tinnitus, when a person feels that his ears are very blocked, and he practically loses the ability to normally perceive the sounds of his surroundings.

Violation of coronary blood flow leads to the development of myocardial ischemia. Such patients develop shortness of breath and chest pain, which can be easily corrected with the help of nitrates. At this time, the organ works in an enhanced mode in order to be able to push a batch of blood into the narrowed main vessels. Each is accompanied by a rapid pulse, pronounced palpitations and the risk that such a formidable complication of a pathological condition will arise as.

In hypertension, eye function disorders are determined with a sharp deterioration in vision and the development of hypertensive retinal vessels. The pathological process also involves the fundus of the eye, which swells and compresses the optic nerve. At this time, the person notices “goosebumps” before his eyes, darkened circles, and the like.

Complications of high blood pressure symptoms in women most often occur during menopause, when menopause occurs. During this period, hormonal changes occur in the body of the fairer sex, disrupting the production of biologically active substances that control normal blood pressure levels. That is why hypertension is the most common consequence of menopause among women.

Complications

HD is one of the insidious diseases that have a slowly progressive nature and are very often diagnosed already at the stage of the appearance of the first complications of the pathological process. With a constant increase in blood pressure, dystrophic and sclerotic changes occur in target organs, leading to severe functional impairment. First of all, the kidneys, brain, heart, visual analyzer and blood vessels are affected by arterial hypertension.

There are several risk factors that affect the rate of development of complications in hypertension and their severity:

bad habits, especially smoking;
sedentary lifestyle and increased body mass index;
elevated blood cholesterol and hyperglycemia;
frequent stress;
deficiency of potassium and magnesium in the body;
age-related changes;
hereditary predisposition.

With hypertensive disease, the heart is forced to work under conditions of increased stress, which is associated with the need to push blood into narrowed vessels. Over time, the myocardial wall thickens and a person experiences oxygen starvation of the heart muscle.

From the heart side, there are several types of complications of hypertension:

ischemic disease;
angina pectoris;
atherosclerosis of coronary vessels;
acute form of heart failure in the form of myocardial infarction;
chronic heart failure.

A high level of blood pressure provokes the appearance of brain disorders in a person, which in practice manifest themselves as severe dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, memory loss, and more. There are several options for complex cerebral complications of hypertension:

encephalopathy with vestibular disorders;
ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke;
cognitive impairment of brain activity.

As you know, the kidneys control the amount of water and salt in the body. But when blood pressure rises, they can fully perform their main job. This contributes to a number of complications, including:

renal failure;
dysfunction of filtration and fluid secretion;
nephrosclerosis.

Such disorders lead to the development of a number of symptoms in hypertensive patients that indicate kidney pathology. A sick person begins to complain of general weakness, malaise, swelling, and causeless nausea.

Eye damage is manifested by the occurrence of hemorrhages in the retina, swelling of the optic nerve head and progressive loss of vision. On the part of peripheral vessels in arterial hypertension, the most dangerous complication is the dissection of their walls, in particular, the well-known aortic aneurysm, which forms and proceeds asymptomatically, often causing sudden death.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of hypertension with the establishment of the stage and degree of development of the disease is an important step towards prescribing adequate treatment for the pathological condition. That is why, when the first signs indicating a hypertensive disease appear, you should immediately contact a medical institution to find out the causes of high blood pressure and methods for its correction.

The set of diagnostic measures for suspected hypertension includes a number of laboratory and instrumental studies, including:

laboratory blood test to determine the level of potassium and magnesium, creatinine, bad cholesterol, glucose, etc.;
biochemical study of urine with determination of the amount of protein;
electrocardiography (ECG);
ultrasound examination of the heart;
Doppler flowmetry;
fundus examination.

The diagnostic procedure for hypertension, which allows us to determine the degree of impairment, consists of two stages:

the first stage is to determine the clinical manifestations of the disease according to the hypertensive patient and obtain the results of additional studies;
the second stage is a special study that allows you to determine the exact extent of the disease and the presence of its complications in the patient using magnetic resonance therapy (MRI) or x-ray examination.

Daily blood pressure monitoring allows you to get an accurate picture of the course of the disease. Thanks to it, you can establish the range of pressure fluctuations throughout the day and determine its average, which will characterize. The main disadvantage of such research is its high cost.

Treatment

Treatment of exacerbations of hypertension should occur in a cardiology hospital, where it is possible to constantly monitor blood pressure levels. In addition, if necessary, the doctor can amend the patient’s treatment plan and prescribe more effective drugs for each specific clinical case.

Treatment of the disease begins with a prescription that strictly limits table salt, fatty and fried foods, as well as offal, smoked meats, and flour products. Nutrition for hypertensive patients is aimed at improving general condition, preventing the development of edema, normalizing weight, and the like.

According to new European recommendations, treatment of hypertension should be comprehensive and necessarily include a number of medications, the action of which is aimed at lowering blood pressure and eliminating the risks of transforming the disease into a malignant version of its course or developing complications of the pathological condition. Among the most used groups of drugs for hypertension are:

(Guanfacine);
ganglion blockers (Pentamine, Benzohexonium);
ACE inhibitors (Enap, Enalapril, Captopril);
beta blockers (Metaprolol, Bisoprolol, Concor);
calcium channel blockers (Verapamil);
diuretics (Lasix, Furosemide, Veroshpiron).

The doctor pays special attention to the prescription of diuretics. The fact is that not every diuretic is safe for the body of a hypertensive patient due to its properties of leaching potassium. That is why taking such medications should be combined with the use of potassium supplements under the control of the biochemical composition of the blood. In addition, diuretics not only reduce blood pressure, but also eliminate tissue swelling by removing excess sodium. More information about taking diuretics is discussed in our article:

Self-treatment of hypertension is strictly prohibited.

It is also not recommended to use it without the approval of such use from your doctor. Prohibited actions, as a main contraindication, may also provoke the need for immediate placement of the patient in a specialized hospital to determine the reasons for the development of complications and decide on further tactics for their elimination.

Prevention

To do this, it is necessary to undergo a set of measures aimed at timely identifying and eliminating the risks of developing a pathological condition, as well as stabilizing already high blood pressure. In order to prevent the occurrence of the first signs of the disease, a person should normalize their lifestyle, give up bad habits and salt consumption, increase their physical activity, and also lose excess weight. Particular attention should be paid to the health of potential patients whose risk of developing hypertension is hereditary. This category of people should always have at hand, with the help of which they can monitor its condition.

Blood pressure problems can be prevented by:

lead an active lifestyle (fitness, walks in the fresh air, skiing, swimming in the pool) and regularly train in the gym;
give up junk food, smoking and;
reduce salt intake to 3-4 g per day;
prohibit yourself from eating foods high in animal fats, preservatives, and cholesterol;
maintain a clear daily routine and practice adequate sleep;
prevent the appearance of excess fat deposits, which provoke obesity;
prevent stressful situations;
regularly undergo preventive examinations with a cardiologist and take the necessary tests;
When the first signs of increased blood pressure appear, immediately seek medical help.

Persons who have inherited a tendency to hypertension should be attentive to their health, exercise and undergo regular examinations. A ready-made diagnosis of hypertension involves clinical observation of patients and, if necessary, referral to.

Good day, dear readers!

In today's article we will look at a disease such as - hypertonic disease, or hypertension.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension (arterial hypertension, hypertension)- persistent from 140/90 mm Hg. Art. and higher.

To diagnose hypertension, the doctor determines:

— stability of pressure rise,
- the presence and degree of pathological changes in internal organs, especially the heart, brain, kidneys;
- the reason for the increase in pressure.

The following tests are prescribed:

— urine test for protein and glucose;
- hemoglobin or hematocrit;
— determination of the level of creatinine or urine blood nitrogen;
- glucose level during fasting;
— .

Depending on the results and medical history, the following tests may also be performed:

- total cholesterol;
- high-density cholesterol;
- triglycerides during fasting;
- chest;
- calcium in blood serum;
- phosphates and uric acid.

Hypertonic disease- a complex disease that cannot be completely cured, at least by human knowledge, therefore, all treatment is aimed at:

preventing exacerbation and complications of the disease;
maintaining normal human well-being;
blood pressure control;
optimization of living standards;
prevention of such ailments as:, etc.

First aid for hypertension

The first signs of arterial hypertension are - general weakness, dizziness and constant headaches, fatigue and irritability.

If a hypertensive patient becomes ill, first of all, you need to call a doctor, but until the doctor arrives, you can do the following:

take a half-sitting position, preferably in a comfortable chair;
warm your feet and legs (with a heating pad, a basin of water, mustard plasters);
take medications such as “Corvalol”, “Valocordin” (30-35 drops) or another drug that the patient had previously taken;
if observed, take nitroglycerin under the tongue;
for severe headaches, take a tablet with a diuretic effect;
refrain from eating.

Treatment of mild and moderate hypertension

As already mentioned, the most insidious is mild and moderate hypertension, which can develop unnoticed, and after a while prepare a “surprise” for a person in a video of complications and pathologies of some organs. It is this form that affects 70% of hypertensive patients, 60% of whom have disturbances in the blood circulation of the brain. In addition, 25% of deaths were registered in victims whose blood pressure did not exceed 140/90 mm Hg. Art.

Treatment of mild hypertension and moderate hypertension is carried out in stages, depending on the body’s response to a particular drug used.

Stage 1: Non-drug treatment

Most hypertensive patients who have moderate hypertension are able to normalize blood pressure and maintain it at a normal level in the future without the help of medications. Unfortunately, in the post-Soviet territory, people are used to just taking pills straight away, and pharmaceutical business empires are promoting this through the media, but nevertheless, it is real. All you need to do is adhere to some rules of life:

give up bad habits (smoking, alcohol);
balance your food intake - stick to low-salt and low-fat diets, and also stop eating;
lead an active lifestyle (move more, play sports, do morning exercises);
carry out herbal medicine;
normalize the daily work/sleep schedule;
treatment with classical and relaxation music.

Of course, I can’t help but mention prayer. Communication with God is the best remedy for any ailment!

If moderate hypertension is accompanied by complications (hypertensive crises, sudden surges in pressure, hypertrophy of the left ventricle of the heart), or there are relatives in the family with severe and malignant hypertension, as well as deaths, then after clarifying the diagnosis, drug therapy is immediately prescribed.

Stage 2: Non-drug treatment + 1 drug

The use of the 2nd stage of treatment for hypertension is prescribed only if the first stage has not produced results over the course of 3-4 months.

The very same treatment of hypertension at the second stage implies non-drug treatment (changes in the patient’s lifestyle) with the addition of a certain drug, usually “first line”, which has a minimum number of contraindications, and also which can be used for a long time.

The drug is prescribed by the attending physician after diagnosis and identification of the type of hypertension.
An important feature of the use of medications in the treatment of hypertension is the continuity of their administration, because Violation of doctor's instructions can result in a heart attack or stroke.

A positive result of stage 2 treatment of hypertension is the normalization of daily blood pressure for a long time (below 160/95 mm Hg), and in the case of severe hypertension - by 10-15% of the initial values, as well as normalization of the heartbeat.

Stage 3: Combination of drugs + lifestyle correction

The 3rd stage of treatment for hypertension is used only when the first two stages have not produced results, but even in this case, only 1-2 additional drugs are prescribed, often from different groups of drugs. At the same time, non-drug treatment, i.e. lifestyle correction does not change. Moreover, to strengthen the result, lifestyle must be changed forever (see “Non-drug treatment”).

The 3rd stage of treatment for hypertension includes a combination of the following groups of medications:

beta blocker and diuretic;
beta blocker and calcium antagonist;
beta blocker and ACE inhibitor;
ACE inhibitor and diuretic;
ACE inhibitor and calcium antagonist.

Treatment of severe and malignant hypertension

As mentioned above, severe and malignant arterial hypertension consists not only of high blood pressure, but also of damage to target organs (brain, kidneys, heart, eyes). In this regard, treatment of severe and malignant hypertension is aimed, in addition to normalizing daily blood pressure, at symptomatic treatment of the affected organs until their normal functioning is completely restored.

Treatment of severe hypertension is also carried out in stages:

1. Blood pressure is normalized by 10-15%.
2. If the patient’s well-being does not worsen, they begin to treat the affected organs symptomatically, including surgical intervention.

In the treatment of severe and malignant hypertension, the following combinations of drugs are prescribed (usually 3-4 types):

beta blocker + diuretic + ACE inhibitor;
beta blocker + diuretic + calcium antagonist + alpha blocker;
ACE inhibitor + diuretic + calcium antagonist + alpha-blocker.

A positive result is:

reduction in blood pressure by 25% compared to blood pressure before treatment;
disappearance of symptoms of hypertensive encephalopathy (impaired brain function);
improved vision confirmed by diagnostics;
improvement of nitrogen excretion and concentration function of the kidneys.
normalization of the functioning of other target organs.

After treatment, daily blood pressure monitoring is prescribed, as well as examination by a doctor at least once every 3 months.

Medicines

Important! Before using any means for self-treatment of hypertension, carefully read the instructions and do not forget to consult with your doctor!

Beta blockers:“Anaprilin”, “Atenolol”, “Acebutolol”, “Betaxolol”, “Bisoprolol”, “Carvedilol”, “Labetalol”, “Metoprolol”, “Nebivolol”, “Pindolol”, “Propranolol”, “Sotalol”, “Celiprolol” "

Diuretics:"Amiloride", "Hydrochlorothiazide", "Indapamide", "Torasemide", "Triamterene", "Furosemide", "Chlorthalidone".

Calcium antagonists (Calcium channel blockers):"Amlodipine", "Lacidipine", "Lercanidipine", "Nimodipine", "Nifedipine", "Riodipine", "Felodipine", "Diltiazem", "Verapamil".

ACE inhibitors (ACE - Angiotensin-converting enzyme):"Enalapril", "Ramipril", "Quinapril", "Perindopril", "Lisinopril", "Benazepril", "Captopril", "Zofenopril", "Fosinopril".

Emergency blood pressure reduction (instead of pills)

Vinegar. Soak a simple cloth with apple cider vinegar or 5% table vinegar and apply it to your heels for 5-10 minutes. Make sure that the pressure does not drop. When it returns to normal, stop the procedure.

Bath with mustard. Fill the foot bath with hot water and add mustard. Steam your legs like this for 10-15 minutes and the pressure will drop.

Mustard plasters. For high blood pressure, simply apply mustard plasters to the calf muscles, shoulders, neck and back of the head.

Traditional medicine recipes for hypertension

Golden mustache. Take 15-17 knees of dark purple middle-aged golden mustache and finely chop. Pour 0.5 liters of vodka over the golden mustache, close the lid and place in a dark place for 12 days. Be sure to shake the jar every 3 days. Take 1 dessert spoon every morning 30 minutes before meals.

Lemon, honey and garlic. Take 0.5 cups, 1 and 5 cloves of garlic. Grate the lemon along with the peel, and mash the garlic in a garlic press. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and place in a dark, warm place for a week. After a week, put the composition in the refrigerator and take 3 times a day, 1 teaspoon.

Kefir with cinnamon. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to a glass of kefir and stir. Drink 1 glass of this kefir every day.

Herbal decoction. Take 100 g of: immortelle, birch buds, strawberry leaves. 2 tbsp. spoons of herbal mixture pour 400 ml of boiling water. Leave to brew in a thermos overnight. Drink 200 ml of infusion 20-30 minutes before meals. Drink the decoction for 50 days, repeat the course once a year.

Oats, honey and herbs. Take 30 g, 50 g of unpeeled oats and 70 g of crushed root. Rinse the oats thoroughly, add 5 liters of water, bring to a boil and leave for 4 hours. Now pour the chopped elecampane roots with the oat broth and bring to a boil again and let stand for 2 hours. Now strain and add honey. Drink 1/3 glass 3 times a day for 2 weeks.

Beet. Mix beet juice in equal parts with honey. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 4-5 times a day for 3 weeks.

Beetroot with hawthorn. Mix beet juice with juice in equal proportions. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day.

Fresh beet juice can only be consumed after at least 3 hours of infusion. You cannot accept it with a freshly pressed video!

Rye flour. 1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of rye flour into 2 tbsp. spoons of boiling water. Eat the mixture on an empty stomach in the morning. Take it for several days.

Plantain. 4 tbsp. Pour 1 glass of vodka over spoons of crushed leaves and let it brew for 2 weeks in a dark place. Strain and use plantain tincture 30 drops 3 times a day.

Persimmon. Drink 2 glasses of freshly squeezed persimmon juice daily for a month. Repeat this course once a year in the fall, when you can buy persimmons.

Onion. In the evening, place a regular peeled onion in a glass half filled with boiled water and leave overnight. In the morning, remove the onion from the glass and drink water. Take onion infusion 2 times a week.

Lemon, honey, cranberry and rosehip. 1 tbsp. Mix a spoonful of grated lemon with 1 tbsp. spoon of cranberries and add 0.5 tbsp. spoons of fresh chopped . Stir the mixture and add 1 cup. Use 1 tbsp morning and evening. spoon.

Seeds. Wash a 0.5 liter jar of fresh sunflower seeds well, pour into a pan (preferably enameled) and fill with 1.5 liters of cold water. When the product boils, cook it over low heat for another 2 hours. When the product has cooled, strain and drink 1 glass of the decoction throughout the day.

Milk and garlic. Boil 2 heads of garlic until softened in 1 glass of milk and strain. Drink 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day after 14 days. Every 2 days prepare a new decoction.

Onions, garlic and rowan. Finely chop 1 medium onion, squeeze out 4 cloves of garlic and add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dried rowan fruits. Pour this mixture into 1 liter of cold boiled water, bring to a boil and, tightly closing the lid, boil for 15 minutes over low heat. Now add 1 tbsp. spoon: dried herb and parsley. Stir and boil for another 15 minutes. Let sit on counter for 1 hour and strain. Take 1.5 tbsp. spoons 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals for 10 days, and then repeat after 3 weeks. Store this decoction in the refrigerator for no more than 5 days.

Valerian officinalis. Grind 10 g of roots and rhizomes, add 300 ml of water and boil for 30 minutes. Strain and drink ½ glass 3 times a day.

Psychological relief. Remember, this is one of the main causes of high blood pressure. Try to relax more and spend your time in nature. Try to watch less modern emotional films, read or watch negative news, etc.

Bad habits. It has been written about it, rewritten. Stop drinking alcohol and smoking, because... they simply kill the body.

Daily regime. Normalize your daily routine, as well as your sleep. Healthy sleep is the key to a good mood for the whole day.

Which doctor should I contact if I have hypertension?

This is a pathology of the cardiovascular system, developing as a result of dysfunction of higher centers of vascular regulation, neurohumoral and renal mechanisms and leading to arterial hypertension, functional and organic changes in the heart, central nervous system and kidneys. Subjective manifestations of high blood pressure include headaches, tinnitus, palpitations, shortness of breath, pain in the heart, blurred vision, etc. Examination for hypertension includes monitoring of blood pressure, ECG, echocardiography, ultrasound of the arteries of the kidneys and neck, urine analysis and biochemical parameters blood. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, drug therapy is selected taking into account all risk factors.

General information

The leading manifestation of hypertension is persistently high blood pressure, i.e. blood pressure that does not return to normal levels after a situational rise as a result of psycho-emotional or physical stress, but decreases only after taking antihypertensive drugs. According to WHO recommendations, normal blood pressure is not exceeding 140/90 mmHg. Art. Exceeding the systolic reading over 140-160 mmHg. Art. and diastolic - over 90-95 mm Hg. Art., recorded at rest with double measurements during two medical examinations, is considered hypertension.

The prevalence of hypertension among women and men is approximately the same 10-20%; the disease most often develops after the age of 40, although hypertension is often found even in adolescents. Hypertension contributes to a more rapid development and severe course of atherosclerosis and the occurrence of life-threatening complications. Along with atherosclerosis, hypertension is one of the most common causes of premature mortality in the young working population.

Causes

Diagnostics

Examination of patients with suspected hypertension has the following goals: to confirm a stable increase in blood pressure, exclude secondary arterial hypertension, identify the presence and degree of damage to target organs, assess the stage of arterial hypertension and the degree of risk of complications. When collecting anamnesis, special attention is paid to the patient’s exposure to risk factors for hypertension, complaints, level of increase in blood pressure, the presence of hypertensive crises and concomitant diseases.

Dynamic measurement of blood pressure is informative for determining the presence and degree of hypertension. To obtain reliable blood pressure levels, the following conditions must be met:

Blood pressure measurement is carried out in a comfortable, quiet environment, after 5-10 minutes of patient adaptation. It is recommended to exclude smoking, exercise, eating, tea and coffee, and the use of nasal and eye drops (sympathomimetics) 1 hour before measurement.
The patient's position is sitting, standing or lying down, with the arm at the same level as the heart. The cuff is placed on the shoulder, 2.5 cm above the fossa of the elbow.
At the patient's first visit, blood pressure is measured in both arms, with repeated measurements after a 1-2 minute interval. If blood pressure asymmetry is > 5 mm Hg, subsequent measurements should be carried out on the arm with higher values. In other cases, blood pressure is usually measured on the “non-working” arm.

If blood pressure readings differ from each other during repeated measurements, then the arithmetic mean is taken as the true one (excluding the minimum and maximum blood pressure readings). In case of hypertension, self-monitoring of blood pressure at home is extremely important.

Laboratory tests include clinical blood and urine tests, biochemical determination of the level of potassium, glucose, creatinine, total blood cholesterol, triglycerides, urine analysis according to Zimnitsky and Nechiporenko, Rehberg test.

On electrocardiography in 12 leads in hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy is determined. ECG data is clarified by echocardiography. Ophthalmoscopy with fundus examination reveals the degree of hypertensive angioretinopathy. An ultrasound scan of the heart determines enlargement of the left chambers of the heart. To determine target organ damage, abdominal ultrasound, EEG, urography, aortography, CT scan of the kidneys and adrenal glands are performed.

Treatment of hypertension

When treating hypertension, it is important not only to lower blood pressure, but also to correct and reduce the risk of complications as much as possible. It is impossible to completely cure hypertension, but it is quite possible to stop its development and reduce the frequency of crises.

Hypertension requires the combined efforts of the patient and the doctor to achieve a common goal. At any stage of hypertension it is necessary:

Follow a diet with increased consumption of potassium and magnesium, limiting the consumption of table salt;
Stop or sharply limit alcohol intake and smoking;
Get rid of excess weight;
Increase physical activity: it is useful to engage in swimming, physical therapy, and walking;
Take prescribed medications systematically and for a long time under the control of blood pressure and dynamic supervision of a cardiologist.

For hypertension, antihypertensive drugs are prescribed that depress vasomotor activity and inhibit the synthesis of norepinephrine, diuretics, β-blockers, antiplatelet agents, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic drugs, and sedatives. The selection of drug therapy is carried out strictly individually, taking into account the entire range of risk factors, blood pressure levels, the presence of concomitant diseases and target organ damage.

The criteria for the effectiveness of treatment of hypertension is the achievement of:

short-term goals: maximum reduction in blood pressure to a level of good tolerance;
medium-term goals: preventing the development or progression of changes in target organs;
long-term goals: prevention of cardiovascular and other complications and prolongation of the patient’s life.

Forecast

The long-term consequences of hypertension are determined by the stage and nature (benign or malignant) of the disease. Severe course, rapid progression of hypertension, stage III hypertension with severe vascular damage significantly increases the frequency of vascular complications and worsens the prognosis.

With hypertension, the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure and premature death is extremely high. Hypertension has an unfavorable course in people who become ill at a young age. Early, systematic therapy and blood pressure control can slow the progression of hypertension.

Prevention

For primary prevention of hypertension, it is necessary to exclude existing risk factors. Moderate physical activity, a low-salt and low-cholesterol diet, psychological relief, and giving up bad habits are useful. It is important to early identify hypertension through monitoring and self-monitoring of blood pressure, follow-up of patients, adherence to individual antihypertensive therapy and maintenance of optimal blood pressure levels.

Today we will talk about what hypertension is, the causes of the disease, and find out how to treat hypertension.
The twentieth century brought humanity a powerful breakthrough in scientific and technological progress and numerous achievements of civilization.

But every medal has two sides, and the burden of the benefits of civilization has become a spreading bouquet of serious diseases that significantly reduce productivity, quality of life, and often threaten human life.

Hypertension (arterial hypertension) is currently one of the most common pathologies of the cardiovascular system. According to doctors, about 30% of the adult population of the planet. And among people over 65 years old, this percentage doubles.

However, many people tend to underestimate the danger of this disease - as a rule, people are much more afraid of cancer or HIV infection. Meanwhile, according to the latest WHO data, cardiovascular diseases confidently hold the lead in the list of the most common causes of death.

Symptoms of hypertension

This is why this insidious disease is dangerous. The symptoms of hypertension in the first stages are vague; their appearance is most often attributed to fatigue, overwork or bad mood.

Well, just think - in the evening the headache intensifies, in the morning when I suddenly got up from bed, my vision darkened slightly and my head began to spin, after a conversation with my boss in a raised voice, my pulse quickened and shortness of breath occurred.

These are all natural reactions, we think. It will pass. And we don’t pay attention, we don’t take any measures except for a pill for headaches, bought blindly at the nearest pharmacy. This is a big mistake.

Hypertension: what is it?

Hypertension (arterial hypertension) is a persistent increase in blood pressure. Our heart tirelessly pumps blood, driving it through the blood vessels with rhythmic impulses under a certain pressure.

At the moment of shock, the heart contracts, the heart muscle contracts, then relaxation occurs. Blood pressure fluctuates: at the moment of compression and push it increases (systolic pressure), at the moment of relaxation of the heart muscle it decreases (diastolic pressure), this cycle is constantly repeated.

Therefore, a digital blood pressure reading is a fraction in which the numerator is systolic pressure and the denominator is diastolic pressure. For example, 120/80.

There is an optimal level of blood pressure at which good health is maintained, and all organs and systems are normally supplied with blood. This level may vary depending on physical and mental stress.

A healthy body has a mechanism for regulating blood pressure: the walls of blood vessels are elastic, they are able to expand (pressure decreases) and contract (pressure increases). Hypertension begins if this mechanism for controlling vascular tone is disrupted, and high blood pressure does not decrease for a long time.

Causes of hypertension

The causes of hypertension are still not fully understood. Doctors and physiologists put forward various concepts. Regulation of the tone of the vascular walls can go wrong, presumably for any of the following reasons:

metabolic disorders (sodium, calcium)
endocrine disorders (including functions of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pancreas, etc.)
hormonal abnormalities (including in women - pregnancy, menopause, long-term use of oral contraceptives)
disorders of the autonomic nervous system
prolonged stress state
renal factor: in some pathologies, the kidneys begin to produce and release certain proteins into the blood that affect vascular tone and increase blood pressure.

Hypertension: risk factors

There are certain factors, in addition to the reasons described above, that increase the likelihood of developing hypertension.

heredity
gender (men get sick more often; in women, the incidence of hypertension increases in postmenopausal age)
excess weight
bad habits
prolonged state of stress
elderly age
atherosclerosis (high cholesterol)
poor nutrition - excess salt, animal fats, etc.
irregular daily routine, lack of sleep, frequent overwork

Hypertension symptoms and treatment

There are three degrees of hypertension, each of which is characterized by a specific set of symptoms.
Normal blood (arterial) pressure ranges from 120/70 to 139/79 mmHg. Art.

first degree of hypertension - 140/90 - 159/99,
second degree - 160/100 - 179/109
third degree - 180/110 and above.

The first stage of the disease can be asymptomatic for a long time or with very minor symptoms. The patient may not suspect that he has a pathology until the development of a hypertensive crisis, i.e. a sharp increase in pressure, accompanied by headache, chills, lightheadedness, dizziness, palpitations, often diarrhea, nausea and even vomiting.

In the second stage, the numbers for high blood pressure are higher, and it lasts longer. In addition, unpleasant changes begin in the so-called target organs, suffering from disruption of normal blood circulation.

First of all, these are the heart, kidneys and brain. Now, an increase in pressure may be accompanied, in addition to the symptoms described above, by pain and heaviness in the heart area, shortness of breath, tachycardia, an increase in the amount of urine, etc.

The third degree of hypertension is characterized by a persistent increase in pressure with very high numbers and threatening dysfunction of target organs. The risk of heart and kidney failure, heart attack, ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes increases significantly. There may be disturbances in vision, hearing and normal function of the lower extremities (so-called intermittent claudication).

Hypertension: treatment and prevention

If there are risk factors in your life, you should take care in advance to prevent the disease. Treatment and prevention of hypertension includes the following factors:

Watch your diet, do not overload the table with animal fats (a source of “bad” cholesterol), reduce the consumption of salt, fried foods and smoked foods in favor of vegetables, fruits, fish and dairy products. Do not overuse strong coffee and black tea, regulate the amount of sweets.

Try to adjust your daily routine so that you have enough time for sleep and exercise, preferably in the fresh air. Physical inactivity is a real time bomb charged with hypertension.

The first degree of the disease, as a rule, does not require serious drug treatment - it is enough to normalize your lifestyle,, if possible, eliminate stressful situations and balance your diet. Taking various vitamins and biological food supplements will support the normal functioning of blood vessels. At this stage, treatment of hypertension with folk remedies, which we will discuss below, will be quite effective.

It is very important to continuously monitor your blood pressure, measuring it several times a day at the same time. To measure, use special tonometers. It is necessary to measure blood pressure both at rest and after a certain physical activity, while monitoring the period of its normalization.

The second and third degrees of hypertension require drug treatment, which must be prescribed by a specialist. As a rule, the patient is prescribed a whole range of drugs, including antihypertensives (lowering blood pressure), as well as diuretics (diuretics) and calcium channel blockers (relaxing the smooth muscles of the vascular walls).

When using medications to treat hypertension, you can simultaneously use folk remedies that lower blood pressure. Traditional medicine has a wide range of remedies and recipes for normalizing blood pressure and relieving vascular spasms.

According to the World Health Organization, hypertension is one of the most common diseases. Hypertension occurs in every third person, and has high mortality rates in severe stages. Only comprehensive treatment that combines medications and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be successful.

What is hypertension? It is a chronic disease, a pathology of the cardiovascular system. It develops as a result of disruption of the functioning of higher centers responsible for the functionality of blood vessels. Hypertension is dangerous due to complications and accompanying internal diseases.

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

Hypertension includes pressure from 140/90 mmHg. and higher if it is confirmed during two medical examinations.

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 recorded cases of the disease. Hypertensive syndrome - the second name of the disease - most often accompanies systemic lupus erythematosus, urolithiasis, anomalies and tumors of the kidneys, ischemia, toxicosis in late pregnancy, and renal tuberculosis. Despite the fact that hypertensive syndrome does not have its own signs and characteristics, it seriously 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 diseases (which become chronic), diabetes mellitus and heredity. It manifests itself in the form of nervousness, absent-mindedness, fatigue and weakness, frequent numbness of the arms and legs, speech impairment, left ventricular hypertrophy and frequent pain in the heart area.

How does hypertension develop?

The mechanism of development of hypertension is as follows: in response to a stress factor, a disturbance in the regulation of tone occurs in the peripheral vessels. The result is a spasm of arterioles, and the formation of dyscirculatory and dyskinetic syndrome. The secretion of neurohormones in the aldosterone system increases significantly. This causes sodium and water retention in the vascular bed, which increases blood circulation and increases blood pressure. During the disease, blood viscosity also increases, which leads to a decrease in the rate of metabolic processes in tissues. The walls of blood vessels increase in size, the lumen 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 saturation of vessel walls with blood plasma, arteriosclerosis and ellastofibrosis develop, and this leads to serious changes in the tissues of some organs.

Hypertension cannot occur spontaneously in humans. Hypertension is usually preceded by vegetative-vascular dystonia (SVD), a frequent accompaniment of which is varicose veins.

Varicose veins and hypertension are interconnected: increased activity of the walls of blood vessels 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 narrowings inside, which impede normal blood flow. Diseased veins can no longer cope with blood flow, which leads to the formation of swelling in the tissues and chronic stagnation in the veins. This can result in the development of gangrene, sepsis and even death.

Classification of the disease

Hypertension varies according to the reasons for the rise in pressure, organ damage, blood pressure level and course. The disease can be benign, or slowly progressing, or rapidly progressing - malignant. More important is the classification according to pressure level and stability. There are:

normal hypertension (up to 129/85 mmHg),
borderline (up to 140/90 mmHg),
hypertension 1 degree (up to 160/100 mmHg),
2 degrees (up to 180/110 mmHg),
3 degrees (over 180/110 mmHg).

Benign hypertension has three stages. The first or mild one is characterized by pressure rises to 180 to 104 mmHg, but after a short rest it normalizes. Some people complain of headaches, sleep problems, fatigue and decreased performance. However, in most cases, the mild stage occurs without significant individual symptoms.

The second or middle stage is characterized by pressure up to 200 to 115 mmHg. at rest. It is accompanied by severe and throbbing headaches, dizziness, and painful sensations in the heart area. During the examination, damage to the heart is discovered. Sometimes subendocardial ischemia is detected. Possible cerebral strokes and transient cerebral ischemia.

The third or severe stage is accompanied by stable and strong increases in pressure. At the beginning of the stage, high blood pressure is unstable and usually appears after physical exertion, as well as changes in atmospheric pressure, and emotional shocks. Normalization is possible after myocardial infarction or stroke. After a heart attack, decapitated hypertension often occurs. That is, a condition when only systolic or pulse pressure decreases.

Reasons for the development of the disease

The causes of hypertension lie in the disruption of the regulatory activity of the main parts of the central nervous system, which control the functioning of all internal organs. Frequent overexertion and overwork, both physical and mental, as well as prolonged, constant and severe anxiety and stress can lead to development.

Working at night and often being in a noisy environment can also trigger the disease.

The risk group includes lovers of salty foods. Salt causes artery spasms and prevents fluid removal. Heredity also plays an important role. The likelihood of developing the disease increases if two or more relatives have hypertension.

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

Diseases of the adrenal glands and kidneys,
Diseases of the thyroid gland,
Obesity,
Diabetes mellitus,
Tonsillitis,
Atherosclerosis.

Among women at maximum risk are those who are at menopausal age. This is due to hormonal changes in the body, emotional exacerbations, and 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 develops in approximately 9% of men at 20 and 30 years of age. At the age of 40 years, the percentage increases to 35, and after 65 years – already 50%. Hypertension is more common in males under the age of 40 than in females. In the older age group, the ratio changes - this is explained by a higher percentage of male mortality from complications.

The causes of hypertension lie in physical inactivity and bad habits. The components of tobacco smoke provoke vascular spasms and damage the thin walls of the arteries. Physical inactivity is accompanied by a slow metabolism, and if the load increases, the untrained heart gets tired many times faster.

Symptoms

The clinical picture of hypertension in the initial stages may not be clearly expressed. A person may not even be aware of high blood pressure and processes developing in blood vessels for a long time. Early 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, rapid heartbeat.

People note decreased performance and loss of concentration. Shortness of breath appears. Headache with hypertension appears more often in the morning in the temporal and occipital region. It may get worse towards the end of the day and when lying down. They are associated with impaired tone of venules and arterioles. Symptoms of hypertension include pain in the heart area. This is due to increased work of the heart muscle to overcome increasing resistance. As a result, a dissociation occurs between the needs and capabilities of the myocardium, which leads to angina pectoris.

Signs of hypertension in later stages are a veil and flashing “spots” before the eyes, as well as other photopsies. They are explained by spasms of the arterioles of the retina. Malignant hypertension can be accompanied by retinal hemorrhages, which lead to blindness. In rare cases, 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 puffiness of the face, increased sweating.

Complications during hypertension

Complications of hypertension:

Hypertensive crisis,
visual impairment,
Poor circulation in the brain,
Nephrosclerosis,
Subarachnoid hemorrhage,
Dissecting aortic aneurysm,
Bradycadia,
Damage to target organs (kidneys, heart, brain, veins and arteries, fundus vessels),
Hypertensive cardiomyopathy (hypertension, left ventricular hypertension)
Angiodystonia of the hypertensive type.

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 triggered 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 weather. One of the most common causes is psycho-emotional trauma. Symptoms: severe and sharp headache, nausea with the urge to vomit, dizziness, fainting, short-term blindness and other visual impairment, adynamia, sudden mood swings, tearfulness. Manifestations of brain symptoms:

Vasospasm,
Violation of the permeability of vascular walls,
The entry of blood plasma into the medulla, which leads to edema.

In the initial stages of the disease, crises are mild and short-lived.

The danger of a crisis in its possible development:

retinal detachment,
stroke,
Acute pulmonary edema,
Cardiac asthma,
Myocardial infarction,
Angina pectoris.

Complications of hypertension cause a serious threat to a person’s life and require regular monitoring by a doctor.

Bradycadia

A common and dangerous complication of hypertension. It appears depending on the form. The mild form may go unnoticed. Severe, frequent and prolonged dizziness with hypertension may indicate a severe form of the disease. Symptoms also include faintness and frequent fainting, sudden changes in pressure. The severe form is accompanied by fainting and short-term cardiac arrest. Treatment of bradycardia in hypertension can occur with homeopathic and medicinal remedies. Diuretics, alpha-blockers, and nifedicipin are usually prescribed. In homeopathy, calendula, St. John's wort, strawberries, and shaker are prescribed.

Complications include the following syndromes in hypertension:

Myocardial lesions,
Kidney damage
Vascular encephalopathy,
Arterial hypertension syndrome.

Associated clinical conditions: ischemic stroke, CHF, coronary revascularization, renal failure, arterial damage, papilledema.

Target organ damage

Heart

Most often, left ventricular hypertrophy develops. This happens because the heart muscle has to push blood into the deformed vessels with great effort. This type of work leads to thickening of the muscle wall and lack of blood circulation. This is dangerous due to muscle strain and heart fatigue. Another pathology is a violation of diastolic function. Increasing fatigue of the heart muscle leads to a moment when it cannot take a relaxed position. The thickened wall cannot relax during the diastolic phase, which is when oxygenation normally occurs. All this leads to the third pathology - chronic failure. It develops as a result of constant oxygen starvation. The disease is very difficult to treat, and in combination with other pathologies it is fatal.

Vessels

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

Brain

Hemorrhage causes almost 25% of all strokes. And hypertension is the main cause of hemorrhages, which have a high percentage of deaths. Insufficient blood supply to the brain leads to ischemic stroke. This complication accounts for more than 70% of cases. It is caused by narrowing of the cerebral arteries or blockage of the canal by a blood clot. Another pathology is hypertensive encephalopathy. This is an emergency condition, accompanied by severe headache, elevated blood pressure, and neurological symptoms. If you start hypertension, there is a chance of developing cognitive impairment and dementia. These are changes in the subcortical substance and brain atrophy, which are responsible for disturbances in thought processes.

Kidneys

One of the most common complications is microalbuminuria. The earliest sign of kidney damage and the development of renal failure. The chronic form of 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 in nature. And upon repeated visits to the doctor, it will not be detected. A single pressure measurement may not reveal the disease: if symptoms recur, it is necessary to measure blood pressure over time. After making a diagnosis, doctors conduct a differential diagnosis to determine the symptomatic form of the disease.

Symptomatic hypertension is most easily identified through examination and minimal laboratory techniques. Nephrogenic hypertension most often accompanies chronic kidney disease. Tachycardia, dilated pupils, increased blood sugar indicate the presence of central nervous hypertension. The diagnosis is confirmed by the detection of increased concentrations of catecholamines in urea and blood during the next crisis. Transient hypertension is difficult to diagnose. To confirm the diagnosis, fluoroscopy and ultrasound of the heart, examination by an ophthalmologist, biochemical blood test and PCG are prescribed.

Pressure measurement

To determine the extent and presence of the disease, dynamic pressure measurement is used. It is carried out as follows: the environment should be comfortable and calm. Measurements begin no earlier than ten minutes after the start of the patient’s appointment. An hour before the visit, avoid smoking, eating any food or strong drinks (tea, coffee, alcohol), any physical activity, or using eye or nasal drops. During the first visit, blood pressure readings are taken from both arms of the patient, with repeated measurements after 2 minutes.

If the difference in readings is more than 5 mmHg. continue measuring on the arm with high pressure.

Treatment of hypertension

How to treat hypertension depends on the stage of the disease, complications, age and many other parameters. Medicinal treatment options are selected by the attending physician. The desire to fight the disease on your own can result in disastrous consequences. Modern treatment of hypertension begins with non-drug methods, which increase the effectiveness of drugs several times. You need to start by establishing a daily routine, eliminating any stress, and not forgetting about exercise and long walks. An important point in how to cope with hypertension is diet. The patient should refuse or significantly reduce salty intake, drink less, and 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 high blood pressure.

Typically the following drugs are used for treatment:

Diuretics,
Inhibitors,
Type II receptor antagonists
Calcium channel blockers.

The goal of drug treatment is to reduce the risk of complications. Doctors are trying to select a set of medications that would equally effectively reduce blood pressure and allow them to “protect” target organs. For initial treatment, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers are most often prescribed to young and elderly patients. They normalize blood pressure and have pronounced protective effects. Diuretics are also popular, and beta-blockers are prescribed for concomitant cardiac pathology.

In rare and difficult cases, bloodletting is prescribed. Bloodletting for hypertension is an ancient but controversial method of treatment. Today they use leeches for it. The advantages of therapy are short-term improvement of the condition. Disadvantages - there is no proven data on the positive effect on the disease.

Blood pressure medications - only as prescribed by a doctor

Homeopathic treatment

When considering the question of how to get rid of hypertension, it is worth paying attention to homeopathic medicines. They are usually recommended when target organs have already been affected. Homeopathy for hypertension has an important advantage: a mild effect. The medications have no contraindications or side effects. Disadvantage: treatment with homeopathic medicines is rather slow. When choosing this method you need to consider:

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

What to take at home to lower blood pressure in the initial stages of the disease:

Corvalol,
Kapoten,
Enap,
Diroton,
Cardozal,
Atakand,
Verapamil,
Lokren.

Inpatient treatment of hypertension

People are usually admitted for inpatient treatment 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.

Diagnosis of complications: sudden onset of an attack, increased blood pressure (increased systolic and diastolic pressure), nausea and vomiting, bloody nose, severe headaches, convulsions, paresthesia of the fingertips, cheeks and lips, transient speech disorders and hemiparesis, hyperhidrosis, cardiac dysfunction, renal dysfunction.

Upon admission, the clinic’s doctors begin to carry out basic diagnostic procedures:

Measure blood pressure dynamics every 15 minutes,
Electrocardiography,
General blood and urine analysis,
Echocardiography,
Biochemical analysis for the detection of potassium, sodium, urea, calcium, creatinine, fibrinogen, coagulogram,
Ophthalmoscopy.

Also, the patient must have an appointment with a neurologist, Rehberg test and rheoencephalography, as well as determination of 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 cardiac ventricle and eliminating symptoms such as:

Peripheral vasoconstruction
cerebral ischemia,
Heart failure.

Of great importance in the treatment of a complicated attack is the administration of antihypertensive medications, hospitalization in the ICU and regular blood pressure checks.

Non-drug treatment of a hypertensive condition includes increasing immunity, cleansing the body, massage, gymnastics, and diet. It is important to adhere to the doctors’ orders and not violate the established regime.

How to live with hypertension

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

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

Psychological climate,
Diet,
Physical 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 entire body. In order to understand the peculiarities 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 them is “Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases” by Yakovlev A. The book briefly and clearly outlines the basic principles about hypertension, as well as the most popular treatment regimens for hypertension.

Psychological climate

Having realized how to treat hypertension and choosing a treatment method, you need to move on to an equally important issue - a healthy lifestyle. It is impossible when working night shifts, frequent quarrels, constant and long-distance business trips, strong emotional stress, negative emotions, fears, and 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 about the positive, and eliminate any sources of stress from your environment. Herbal teas, meditation, walks, and doing what you love will help with this.

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

Diet

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

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

It is important to include foods rich in potassium and magnesium in your 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:

Prunes,
Apricots,
Cabbage,
pumpkin,
Bananas.

Rich in magnesium:

Buckwheat, oat and millet groats,
Carrot,
Beet,
Black currant,
Parsley and lettuce leaves
Walnuts.

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

Physical exercise

Complications of arterial hypertension and the disease itself do not mean that the patient should give up any activity. Gymnastics, simple exercises, yoga or long walks, swimming are indicated for hypertensive patients. Movement not only carries a charge of positive emotions, but also helps fight excess weight.

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

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