Disorders of the cardiovascular system are one of the most common health problems in humanity. Studies have been conducted that have shown that they are much more common among urban residents than among those who spend most of their time in rural areas. In addition, diseases of this category "rejuvenate", developing in people under 40 years of age. One of the most common pathologies of this type is hypertension. This is a regular, above-average increase in blood pressure.
Symptoms (signs) of hypertension
The manifestations of the disease depend on the stage of development in which it is found. Normally, blood pressure is between 110-130 to 70-90 mmHg. Depending on the severity of the disease, in critical cases it can reach levels between 260 and 110. This condition puts human health and life at risk. At the same time, in the initial stages, hypertension can be expressed only by mild malaise, increased fatigue and headache. As the pathology develops, its course also becomes more complicated. The most dangerous condition is a hypertensive crisis - a sharp increase in blood pressure. The general symptoms of the disease are:
- headache, feeling of tightness, especially in the back of the head and temples;
- noise and ringing in the ears;
- "spots", spots, a veil before the eyes;
- decreased visual acuity;
- deterioration of spatial coordination and fine motor skills;
- tremor, numbness in the arms and legs;
- nausea and vomiting.
The signs of hypertension appear to varying degrees depending on the stage of the disease. Deterioration of the condition occurs gradually, often throughout life. There are three stages of development of the disease:
- I - with blood pressure readings of 140-160 for 90-100 mmHg;
- II - at a pressure of 160-180 per 100-110 mmHg;
- III - when the upper limits of the second phase are exceeded.
A constant increase in pressure leads to malfunctions of the heart: the most common consequence of this is the development of coronary heart disease. There is also a risk of developing a heart attack or stroke.
Causes of hypertension
The nature of diseases of the cardiovascular system has not been fully studied by specialists. A particular difficulty lies 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 notice and study the onset of the disease. Most often, hypertension occurs in combination with the following disorders:
- kidney disease;
- vascular pathologies;
- renal artery obstruction;
- thyroid diseases;
- disruptions in the functioning of the adrenal glands;
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- insufficient or excessive physical activity.
Such causes cause a secondary form of the disease, that is, one that develops under the influence of provoking factors. Signs of hypertension usually appear after the age of 35-40. The primary subtype of the disease is caused directly by congenital pathologies of the blood vessels or heart. The following factors further increase the risk of developing hypertension:
- age over 55;
- 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 fats, spices and sugar affect the condition of 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 disease.
Which doctor should I contact?
The manifestation of symptoms of hypertension requires mandatory medical intervention in the early stages. Delay can provoke 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. Your doctor will help you solve the problem:
One of the most important points in identifying a disease is determining its root causes, especially if hypertension is secondary. In this case, the effectiveness of treatment will not be high without eliminating the prerequisites for the pathology. To deal with this, the doctor will have to specify 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?
- Are they related to some external factor?
- Does the patient have heart, kidney or endocrine disease?
- What kind of life does he lead?
- What symptomatic treatment do you use for attacks?
Subsequently, an external examination will be carried out with listening to the heart and measurement of blood pressure. In addition, laboratory tests on urine and blood, hardware tests are prescribed, and differential diagnostic tools are used.
Methods of treatment of the disease
The scheme for influencing the pathology is based on the causes of hypertension in each individual case. It is also important to consider whether it is primary or secondary in nature, since the main purpose of the impact depends on this. All this information allows the specialist to build an optimal individual treatment plan. Most often it includes the following steps:
- body weight control through diet;
- perform physical exercises of varying intensity;
- take diuretic drugs;
- use of antitachycardia drugs;
- taking adrenergic blockers;
- use of antispasmodics and painkillers;
- use of drugs containing potassium.
The therapeutic regimen is strongly influenced by the stage of the disease. In the first phase it is sometimes possible to do without drugs, while the second and third phases require rather high dosages or strong drugs. To treat hypertension, only conservative therapy is used.
Diagnosis of hypertension
Pathology detection requires observations over a period of time with constant monitoring of the results. This helps determine whether it is primary in nature 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 approximately 85%.
- Daily blood pressure monitoring is a procedure that allows continuous monitoring for a specific period of time using portable equipment. The cost depends on the required duration of monitoring. Accuracy exceeds 95%.
- Laboratory tests on urine and blood. Determine the quantitative and qualitative composition of liquids and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Accuracy is approximately 75%.
- Chest x-ray. Allows you to visually assess the condition of the heart. Accuracy: less than 70%.
For possible cardiac pathologies, 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 in case of deterioration of vision.
Possible complications
Symptoms of hypertension affect a significant portion of organs and systems that are not directly related to blood circulation. However, the general state of health depends on the quantity and quality of nutrients and oxygen transported by the fluid current. Severe attacks of hypertension can cause the following problems:
- vascular deformations;
- coronary heart disease;
- kidney disease;
- threat of stroke and heart attack;
- blurred vision due to damage to the eye vessels;
- development of the "cor pulmonale";
- exercise intolerance.
The possibility of complications of varying severity depends on the stage of the disease. In the early and middle stages, attacks can be complemented by nosebleeds, bouts of vomiting and tachycardia. If the situation worsens significantly, loss of consciousness, heart failure and damage to the integrity of the blood vessels are possible. The most serious conditions are seizures, heart attack and stroke.
Groups at risk
Many people wonder what kind of disease hypertension is, since the prevalence of this problem is very large. At the same time, the pathology tends to affect people of working age, from 20 to 45 years old, although a few decades ago the threshold was much higher. Not everyone is equally likely to develop this disorder. The following groups are particularly at risk:
- people with body weight gain and obesity;
- those whose activities are associated with intense physical activity or, conversely, its lack;
- people with genetic predisposition to hypertension;
- living in environmentally polluted areas;
- smokers and alcohol consumers;
- people who do not monitor the fat and carbohydrate content in food;
- those who have been diagnosed with serious heart, liver or kidney disease.
The pathology does not favor 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, the disease usually develops at 55-60 years of age, and in men at 65-70 years of age.
Prevention of hypertension
Protecting yourself from cardiovascular diseases is not always easy, since many of them are caused by congenital characteristics of the organism or age. However, preventive measures will still have a positive effect on the situation and health in general. Hypertension can develop due to poor lifestyle choices, so correcting some aspects of it will be helpful. The recommendations are:
- timely treat all diseases that cause hypertension: heart, blood vessels, blood, kidneys;
- stick to a daily routine;
- avoid lack of sleep and overwork;
- maintain a healthy diet - avoid foods high in fat and cholesterol, alcoholic beverages, strong tea and coffee;
- carry out moderate physical activity and avoid a sedentary lifestyle;
- undergo regular preventive examinations;
- take vitamin and mineral complexes recommended by your doctor to maintain health.
Hypertension can be prevented only by maintaining the general well-being of the body. Different systems influence 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.