Arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) is widespread throughout the world. In our country, 40% of the adult population suffers from high blood pressure, and only 21% receive effective treatment.
Hypertension, essential hypertension, high blood pressure or high blood pressure?
Previously in our country the term hypertension was used. For some time now, according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), the term high blood pressure or high blood pressure has been used.
What is hypertension?
You can be said to have high blood pressure if your doctor records an increase in blood pressure during at least 3 blood pressure monitoring measurements.
Normally, pressure figures can vary depending on a person's condition: they increase during physical or psycho-emotional stress, they decrease during sleep. However, the pressure returns to normal figures of 100/60 to 140/90.
Symptoms of hypertension
The main symptom of hypertension is headache. This occurs due to narrowing and spasm of the blood vessels in the brain. Also common symptoms of hypertension:
- tinnitus
- Flying "flies" and a veil before the eyes
- General weakness
- sleep disturbance
- Dizziness
- Feeling of heaviness in the head.
- palpitations
These symptoms appear at an early stage of hypertension and are neurotic in nature. In later stages of hypertension, heart failure may occur due to constant overwork of the heart muscle due to high blood pressure.
Due to the progression of the disease process, there may be a decrease in visual acuity, damage to the blood vessels of the brain due to high blood pressure, this in some cases can lead to paralysis, decreased sensitivity of the limbs, which It occurs due to vasospasm. , hemorrhage or thrombosis.
Causes of hypertension
If the cause of the increase in blood pressure is not established, it is called primary (essential) hypertension, or essential hypertension. In its development the following intervene:
- hereditary predisposition
- chronic stress
- Amount of salt consumed
- Low physical activity, etc.
- In women, the cause of hypertension may be the period of restructuring of the body during menopause.
The underlying cause is difficult to determine in a given case because most people diagnosed with hypertension are exposed to multiple risk factors that contribute to high blood pressure.
Up to 5% of high blood pressure is secondary (symptomatic), that is, caused by certain causes. Most often, kidney pathology, endocrine pathology or abnormalities of large vessels provoke an increase in blood pressure.
Examination of patients is aimed at excluding secondary causes of arterial hypertension, since sometimes these causes can be eliminated or require specific treatment.
In addition, the examination clarifies the changes in organs and systems caused by high blood pressure itself. High blood pressure causes changes in the heart, kidneys, brain vessels, and fundus vessels. This exam must be carried out periodically, at least once a year.
The level of high blood pressure and target organ damage determines the risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Depending on the degree of risk, treatment tactics are determined: from changes in lifestyle, diet and weight loss to the immediate start of drug therapy.
It is important to monitor your blood pressure not only when you visit a doctor, but also yourself.
How to measure pressure?
How to measure blood pressure:
- Blood pressure should be measured at rest, after a 5-minute rest, while sitting.
- The cuff of the tonometer should be at the level of the heart, its lower edge 2 cm above the elbow.
- Blood pressure should be measured every day and recorded in a blood pressure diary.
Hypertension treatment
A blood pressure control program consists of lifestyle changes and drug therapy. Changing your lifestyle involves:
- Regular physical activity up to 30 minutes a day.
- Low calorie diet and weight loss.
- Reduce salt consumption
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Reduce the intake of saturated fatty acids and foods rich in cholesterol.
- Increased fruit consumption
- quit smoking
Drug therapy is prescribed immediately if the blood pressure level is high. Most patients need to take 2 or more medications.
Treatment of patients with arterial hypertension is carried out on an ongoing basis, since its cancellation will again lead to an increase in blood pressure.