Cardiovascular system disorders are one of the most common health problems in humans. Studies have been conducted that prove that they are more common among urban residents than those who spend most of their time in rural areas. In addition, diseases in this category "become younger", develop in people under the age of 40. One of the most common pathologies of this type is hypertension. It is a normal increase in blood pressure above average.
Symptoms of hypertension (signs)
The manifestation of the disease depends on the stage of its development. Normally, blood pressure is between 110-130 every 70-90 mmHg. Depending on the severity of the disease, it can increase in critical cases to the level of 260 to 110. This situation threatens human health and life. At the same time, in the early stages, hypertension can only be expressed by feeling unwell, increased fatigue, and headaches. As the pathology progresses, the course also becomes more complicated. The most dangerous condition is a hypertensive crisis - a sudden jump in blood pressure. Common symptoms of this disease are:
- headache, feeling of tightness, especially in the back of the head and temples;
- noise and ringing in the ears;
- "spots", freckles, veils in front of the eyes;
- decreased visual acuity;
- deterioration in spatial coordination and fine motor skills;
- tremors, numbness in arms and legs;
- nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms of hypertension appear at different levels depending on the stage of the disease. Deterioration occurs gradually, often over a lifetime. There are three stages of disease progression:
- I - with a blood pressure reading of 140-160 every 90-100 mmHg;
- II - at a pressure of 160-180 per 100-110 mmHg;
- III - when the upper limit of the second stage is exceeded.
A constant increase in pressure leads to heart damage - the most common consequence is the development of coronary artery disease. There is also a risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Causes of hypertension
The nature of diseases of the cardiovascular system has not been fully studied by experts. Certain difficulties lie in the fact that such disorders often form during the period of intrauterine development and appear much later. At the same time, it is not always possible to see and study the onset of the disease. Often, hypertension occurs in combination with the following disorders:
- kidney disease;
- vascular pathology;
- renal artery obstruction;
- pathology of the thyroid gland;
- disorders in the function of the adrenal glands;
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- insufficient or excessive physical activity.
Such causes cause secondary forms of the disease - that is, those that develop under the influence of the provoking factor. Signs of hypertension usually appear after the age of 35-40 years. The main subtype of this disease is directly caused by congenital pathology of blood vessels or heart. The following factors also increase the risk of developing hypertension:
- age over 55 years;
- obesity;
- high cholesterol levels;
- genetic predisposition;
- diabetes mellitus;
- hormonal disorders;
- frequent stress and depression.
Blood pressure levels are directly affected by diet. Some foods - dark chocolate, coffee, alcohol - can cause an increase in blood pressure. Saturated fat, spices and sugar affect the condition of the blood vessels and the chemical composition of the blood, which also indirectly affects the increase in blood pressure. It has been proven that smoking often leads to this disease.
Which doctor should I contact?
Manifestations of hypertension symptoms require mandatory medical intervention at the earliest stage. Delay can trigger the development of complications and in the future lead to serious conditions such as stroke and heart attack. Timely diagnosis will significantly reduce the risk. The doctor will help you solve the problem:
One of the most important things in identifying a disease is determining its cause, especially if hypertension is secondary. In this case, the effectiveness of the treatment will not be high without eliminating the prerequisites for the pathology. To overcome it, the doctor needs to determine the clinical picture as much as possible. To do this, he will ask the following questions:
- What symptoms are you worried about?
- How long ago did they start appearing?
- How often do hypertensive attacks occur?
- Is it related to any external factors?
- Does the patient have heart, kidney, or endocrine disease?
- What kind of life does he lead?
- What symptomatic treatment did he use for the attack?
After this, an external examination will be carried out by listening to the heart and measuring blood pressure. In addition, laboratory tests of urine and blood, hardware tests are prescribed, and differential diagnostic tools are used.
Methods of treating diseases
The scheme to influence pathology is based on the cause of hypertension in each individual case. It is also important to consider whether it is primary or secondary, because the main purpose of the effect depends on this. All of this information allows the specialist to build an optimal individual treatment plan. It usually includes the following steps:
- weight control through diet;
- perform physical exercises of varying intensity;
- taking diuretic drugs;
- use of anti-tachycardia drugs;
- taking adrenergic blockers;
- the use of antispasmodics and painkillers;
- the use of drugs containing potassium.
The therapeutic regimen is strongly influenced by the stage of the disease. In the first stage, it can sometimes be done without medication, while the second and third stages require relatively large doses or strong drugs. To treat high blood pressure, only conservative therapy is used.
Diagnosis of hypertension
Pathological detection requires observation over a period of time with continuous monitoring of results. This makes it possible to determine whether it is a primary trait and whether there are associated disorders. In this case, the method of differential diagnosis is used. It consists of the following stages:
- Repeated blood pressure measurements. It is performed on both arms, in a sitting or standing position, depending on age. Accuracy is about 85%.
- Daily pressure monitoring is a procedure that allows continuous monitoring over a period of time using portable equipment. The cost depends on the period of monitoring required. Accuracy over 95%.
- Laboratory tests of urine and blood. Determine the quantitative and qualitative composition of fluids and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Accuracy is about 75%.
- Chest X-ray. Allows you to visually assess the state of the heart. Accuracy - less than 70%.
For possible heart pathology, an electrocardiogram is prescribed. In addition, an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity can be performed to determine the condition of the kidneys and fundus diagnostics if vision deteriorates.
Possible complications
Symptoms of hypertension affect most organs and systems that are not directly related to blood circulation. However, the overall state of health depends on the quantity and quality of nutrients and oxygen carried by the fluid current. A severe attack of hypertension can trigger the following problems:
- vascular deformation;
- coronary heart disease;
- kidney pathology;
- threat of stroke and heart attack;
- blurred vision due to damage to the ocular canal;
- the development of "pulmonary heart";
- exercise intolerance.
Possible complications vary in severity depending on the stage of the disease. In the early and middle stages, attacks can be accompanied by nosebleeds, vomiting attacks and tachycardia. If the condition worsens significantly, loss of consciousness, heart failure, and damage to the integrity of blood vessels are possible. The worst conditions are crises, heart attacks and strokes.
Risk groups
Many people ask questions about the type of hypertension disease, because the prevalence of this problem is very wide. At the same time, the pathology tends to affect people of working age - from 20 to 45 years, although a few decades ago the threshold was much higher. Not everyone is equally likely to develop this disorder. The following groups are especially at risk:
- people with weight gain and obesity;
- those whose activities are associated with heavy physical activity or, on the contrary, with its lack;
- people with a genetic predisposition to high blood pressure;
- living in an environmentally polluted area;
- smokers and alcohol abusers;
- people who do not monitor the content of fat and carbohydrates in their food;
- those who have been diagnosed with severe heart, liver or kidney disease.
Pathology does not make a preference between men and women - the statistics for both sexes are approximately the same. However, due to more frequent alcohol consumption and harsh working conditions, the risk for the stronger sex is slightly higher. In women, this disease usually develops at 55-60 years, and in men - at 65-70 years.
Prevention of hypertension
Protecting yourself from cardiovascular diseases is not always easy, because most of them are caused by congenital characteristics of the body or age. However, preventive measures will still have a positive effect on the condition and health in general. Hypertension can develop due to poor lifestyle choices, so correcting some aspects of it will be beneficial. The recommendations are:
- immediately treat all diseases that trigger hypertension - heart, blood vessels, blood, kidneys;
- stick to a daily routine;
- avoid sleep deprivation and overwork;
- maintain a healthy diet - avoid foods high in fat and cholesterol, alcoholic beverages, strong tea and coffee;
- do moderate physical activity and avoid a sedentary lifestyle;
- undergoing regular preventive examinations;
- take a complex of vitamins and minerals recommended by your doctor to maintain health.
Hypertension can only be prevented by maintaining the overall well-being of the body. Several systems affect the formation of this disease, so prevention only with pills or exercise will not be effective. An important stage in its implementation is the timely diagnosis of accompanying and provoking factors.