Hypertension refers to a number of diseases related to the cardiovascular system. What is hypertension and how is it expressed? In medicine, this disease is called arterial hypertension, it is expressed by regular elevated blood pressure in people (from 190 to 40 ml of mercury and more). Disease is a common problem of mankind.
Causes of hypertension
Arterial hypertension is a multifactorial disease that develops over a long time and does not manifest itself in any way. The causes and favorable conditions under which hypertension manifests are absolutely diverse:
- accommodation;
- stressful situations;
- professional activity;
- electromagnetic fields and radiation;
- nutritional characteristics;
- pathology of development;
- diabetes;
- elevated cholesterol.
Also, the cause of hypertension is a genetic predisposition. Causes of hypertension in women are due to difficult childbirth or postpartum stress.
Symptoms of pathology
Very often, the first signs of hypertension do not cause suspicion, because they are the consequences of ordinary fatigue and overload. But if you feel a regular manifestation of the symptoms, and when measuring the pressure it is constantly elevated, you should definitely consult a doctor. Signs of hypertension in the initial stage:
- headache (develops in the occipital region and surrounds the head), which can appear at any time of the day, aggravated by bending or sudden movements;
- pain in the region of the heart, with experiences and stress;
- ringing in the ears;
- dizziness, blurred vision.
- feeling anxious;
- a throbbing sensation in the head;
- overwork.
As the disease progresses, the symptoms of hypertension worsen, hypertensive patients manifest excessive sweating, swelling of the face, swelling of the hands, memory impairment.
A hypertensive crisis is an exacerbation that occurs in patients with hypertension. An exacerbation is characterized by a sudden increase in blood pressure. This condition can be caused by stress, exercise or stopping medication.
Hypertensive patients experience the following condition during an exacerbation:
- feeling sick (may start vomiting);
- sharp darkening of the eyes;
- dyspnea;
- a feeling of severe pain in the head and chest;
- facial redness.
Diagnostics
| Basic diagnostic methods | Description |
|---|---|
| Pressure measurement | The portable medical device is attached to the patient's belt, and a cuff is placed on the shoulder. After a few time intervals, the cuff inflates and the portable device will restore the pressure. Blood pressure is recorded every 10-15 minutes during the day, and every 30 minutes at night. |
| Blood and urine test | The analysis is able to determine the level of hemoglobin, hematocrit, potassium, calcium, creatine glucose, shows the level of cholesterol. |
| Instrumental diagnostics of the heart |
|
| Eye exam | An ophthalmologist performs an eye examination. In the initial stage of the disease, the retinal veins expand and the arteries narrow. |
| Ultrasound of the kidneys and adrenal glands | With increasing pressure, the nephrons, the blood filter, die in the kidneys. This can lead to kidney failure. Medical ultrasound of the kidneys reveals: tumors in the adrenal glands, possible pathologies of the kidney tissue. |
Treatment of pathology
During treatment, patients should lead a calm lifestyle, in which there is no stress or emotional overload. Patients should spend more time outdoors, it is best to go for long walks in the forest, in the park, near the reservoir. It is necessary to follow a diet, because proper nutrition is the key to successful treatment of arterial hypertension.
Medically
Treatment of hypertension depends on the stage of the disease. The main goal of treatment is to minimize the risk of developing cardiovascular complications and prevent the risk of death.
The goal of drug therapy is to lower blood pressure, that is, to eliminate the cause of this vascular condition. At the beginning of the treatment of hypertension, mono and combined therapy is suitable. When it is ineffective, I use low-dose combinations of antihypertensives.
Treatment with drugs for hypertension is prescribed by the doctor after studying the results of the diagnosis. If hypertension appears, then therapy is carried out with such drugs as:
- Alpha and beta blockers are prescribed to patients with cardiovascular problems. To prevent heart complications, these are the best means, but not the best.
- Vasodilators reduce pressure, but can be used for a long time, because the drug is addictive (use no longer than 2 weeks).
- Diuretics and calcium antagonists have a long-lasting effect. These drugs gradually normalize blood pressure.
- Use of calcium blockers together with diuretics. These drugs block the absorption of calcium by the blood vessels, as a result, they expand and the pressure decreases.
Folk remedies
- Beet. Beetroot juice should be drunk 3 times in 24 hours, 0. 5-2 cups each (2-3 weeks).
- Black chokeberry. To treat yourself with this method, you need to drink the juice 3 times a day (2 weeks). Then the reception is interrupted for a week, after which the treatment continues.
- Garlic. 3 heads of garlic and 3 lemons need to be chopped in a meat grinder. Pour 1. 25 liters of porridge. boiling water, infusion for one day, mixed. Take 50 ml 30 minutes before eating and before going to bed (3 weeks).
- Cranberry and honey. It is necessary to mix half a glass of cranberry juice and half a glass of honey. It is taken 3 times a day, 1 teaspoon for 2 weeks.
- Medicinal herbs are used as non-drug treatment of hypertension: chamomile, St. John's wort, lemon balm, calendula clover. Decoctions of these plants can be used to treat and prevent the cause of hypertension, as they have a calming and anti-stress effect.
Diet for hypertension
Treatment of hypertension includes diet as an important factor in recovery. Diet plays an important role in hypertension. Therefore, there are recommendations related to nutrition. Limit salty, fried and fatty foods. You must eliminate butter, beef, mayonnaise, and sour cream from your diet. Instead of animal fats, it is necessary to choose vegetable fats. Simpler foods are recommended: cereals, vegetables and fruits, foods containing potassium (fresh cheese, potatoes, citrus fruits, dried fruits, oatmeal). Diet and choosing the right foods will help lower cholesterol, which in turn will lower blood pressure, as well as reduce the harmful effects of sodium on health.
The main rule if arterial hypertension appears and is detected is simple - it is necessary to visit a doctor, because hypertensive patients should be treated under his control.
What is dangerous?
It provokes a disturbance of the central nervous system:
- headache;
- reduction of working capacity;
- stroke.
Causes disorders in internal organs:
- Acute renal failure. There is an uneven distribution of blood throughout the body.
- Cardiac ischemia. With a significant load, the heart begins to grow like a muscle, and the vessels do not develop, the oxygen supply is disrupted, while the work force does not change, an overload occurs.
- Visual impairment (dilation of large vessels and narrowing of small ones).
- Disorder of sexual function (in men, it occurs due to the occasional blood flow to the penis, which can cause clogging of the arteries that feed it).
Hypertension implies a number of additional deviations. Developing and progressive hypertension carries with it serious consequences that complicate the treatment of the pathology. The risk of stroke and heart attack increases significantly with arterial hypertension. As the hypertension progresses, the deviation becomes more difficult.