Cardiovascular system disorders are one of the most common health problems in humanity. Studies have been carried out 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 in this category "get younger", developing in people under 40 years of age. One of the most common pathologies of this type is hypertension. It is a regular increase in blood pressure above average.
Hypertension symptoms (signs)
The manifestations of the disease depend on the stage of development it is at. Normally, blood pressure is between 110-130 by 70-90 mmHg. Depending on the severity of the disease, it can increase in critical cases to levels of 260 to 110. This condition threatens human health and life. At the same time, in the initial stages, hypertension can only be expressed by slight malaise, increased fatigue and headache. As the pathology evolves, its course also becomes more complicated. The most dangerous condition is a hypertensive crisis - a sharp jump in blood pressure. The general symptoms of the disease are:
- headache, feeling of tightness, especially in the back of the neck and temples;
- noise and ringing in the ears;
- "spots", stains, a veil before the eyes;
- decreased visual acuity;
- deterioration in spatial coordination and fine motor skills;
- tremor, numbness in arms and legs;
- nausea and vomiting.
Signs of hypertension appear to varying degrees depending on the stage of the disease. The deterioration of the condition occurs gradually, often throughout life. There are three stages of disease development:
- I - with blood pressure readings of 140-160 by 90-100 mmHg;
- II - at a pressure of 160-180 by 100-110 mmHg;
- III - when the upper limits of the second stage are exceeded.
A constant increase in pressure leads to poor heart function - the most common consequence of this is the development of coronary artery 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 experts. A particular difficulty lies in the fact that such disorders usually 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 diseases;
- vascular pathologies;
- renal artery obstruction;
- thyroid gland pathologies;
- disturbances in the functioning of the adrenal glands;
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- insufficient or excessive physical activity.
Such causes provoke a secondary form of the disease - that is, one that develops under the influence of provoking factors. Signs of hypertension usually appear after 35-40 years of age. The primary subtype of the disease is directly caused by congenital pathologies of the blood vessels or heart. The following factors additionally 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 high blood pressure. Saturated fats, spices and sugar affect the state 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 illness.
Which doctor should I contact?
The manifestation of hypertension symptoms 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. The doctor will help you solve the problem:
One of the most important points in identifying a disease is determining its basic causes, especially if hypertension is secondary. In this case, the effectiveness of treatment will not be increased without eliminating the prerequisites for the pathology. To deal with this, the doctor will need to specify the clinical picture as much as possible. To do this, he will ask you 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 does he use for attacks?
Then, an external examination will be carried out with auscultation of the heart and measurement of blood pressure. In addition, laboratory tests of urine and blood, hardware tests and differential diagnostic tools are prescribed.
Disease treatment methods
The scheme of influence on pathology is based on the causes of hypertension in each individual case. It is also important to consider whether it is of a primary or secondary nature, as the main objective of the impact depends on this. The totality of this information allows the specialist to build an ideal individual treatment plan. Most often it includes the following steps:
- control of body weight through diet;
- perform physical exercises of varying intensity;
- take diuretic medications;
- use of antitachycardia medications;
- take adrenergic blockers;
- use of antispasmodics and analgesics;
- use of medications containing potassium.
The therapeutic regimen is strongly influenced by the stage of the disease. In the first stage, it is sometimes possible to do without medication, while the second and third stages require rather large dosages or strong medications. To treat hypertension, only conservative therapy is used.
Diagnosis of hypertension
Detection of pathology requires observations over a period of time with constant monitoring of results. This makes it possible to determine whether it is of a primary nature and whether there are associated disorders. In this case, the differential diagnosis method is used. It consists of the following steps:
- Repeated blood pressure measurements. It is performed with both arms, sitting or standing, depending on age. The accuracy is about 85%.
- Daily pressure monitoring is a procedure that allows continuous monitoring over a specified period of time using portable equipment. The cost depends on the required duration of monitoring. Accuracy exceeds 95%.
- Laboratory tests of urine and blood. Determine the quantitative and qualitative composition of liquids and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. The accuracy is about 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. Additionally, an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity can be performed to determine the condition of the kidneys and diagnose the fundus if vision deteriorates.
Possible complications
The symptoms of hypertension affect a significant number 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 stream. Severe attacks of hypertension can cause the following problems:
- vascular deformations;
- coronary heart disease;
- kidney pathologies;
- threat of stroke and heart attack;
- blurred vision due to damage to the eye vessels;
- development of the "lung heart";
- exercise intolerance.
The possibility of complications of varying severity depends on the stage of the disease. In the initial and intermediate stages, crises can be complemented by nosebleeds, vomiting attacks and tachycardia. If the situation worsens significantly, loss of consciousness, heart failure and damage to the integrity of blood vessels are possible. The most serious conditions are crisis, heart attack and stroke.
Groups of risk
Many people question what type of disease hypertension is, as 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 old, although a few decades ago the limit was much higher. Not everyone is equally likely to develop this disorder. The following groups are particularly at risk:
- people with increased body weight and obesity;
- those whose activities are associated with intense physical activity or, conversely, with its lack;
- people with a genetic predisposition to hypertension;
- live in environmentally polluted areas;
- smokers and alcohol abusers;
- people who do not monitor the content of fats and carbohydrates in their diet;
- those who have been diagnosed with serious heart, liver or kidney disease.
Pathology does not make preferences 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, the disease usually develops at the age of 55-60, and in men - at the age of 65-70.
Prevention of hypertension
Protecting yourself from cardiovascular diseases is not always easy, as many of them are caused by congenital characteristics of the body or age. However, preventive measures will continue to 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 beneficial. The recommendations are:
- promptly treat all diseases that provoke hypertension - heart, blood vessels, blood, kidneys;
- follow a daily routine;
- avoid lack of sleep and overwork;
- maintain a healthy diet – avoid foods rich in fat and cholesterol, alcoholic beverages, strong tea and coffee;
- perform 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 only be prevented by maintaining the general well-being of the body. Several systems influence the formation of this disease, so prevention with pills or exercise alone will not be effective. An important stage in its implementation is the timely diagnosis of accompanying and provoking factors.