Disorders of the cardiovascular system are one of the most common health problems in humanity. Studies have been conducted that have proven that they are much more common in urban dwellers than in those who spend most of their time in rural areas. Moreover, diseases of this category "recur", developing in people under the age of 40. One of the most common pathologies of this type is hypertension. It is a regular increase in blood pressure above average.
Symptoms (signs) of hypertension
Manifestations of the disease depend on the stage of development in which it is located. Normally, blood pressure is between 110-130 for 70-90 mmHg. Depending on the severity of the disease, it can increase in critical cases to levels from 260 to 110. This condition threatens human health and life. At the same time, in the initial stages, hypertension can be expressed only with mild discomfort, increased fatigue and headaches. As the pathology develops, 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 head and in the temples;
- tinnitus and tinnitus;
- "spots", spots, a veil before the eyes;
- decrease in visual acuity;
- deterioration of spatial coordination and fine motor skills;
- tremors, numbness in arms and legs;
- nausea and vomiting.
Signs of hypertension appear in different degrees depending on the stage of the disease. Deterioration of the condition occurs gradually, often throughout life. There are three stages of disease development:
- I - with blood pressure readings of 140-160 for 90-100 mmHg;
- II - at a pressure of 160-180 for 100-110 mmHg;
- III - when the upper limits of the second stage are exceeded.
A constant increase in pressure leads to malfunctions of the heart - 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 specialists. A particular difficulty lies in the fact that such disorders are often formed during the period of intrauterine development and appear much later. At the same time, it is not always possible to observe and study the onset of the disease. Most often, hypertension occurs in combination with the following disorders:
- kidney diseases;
- vascular pathologies;
- renal artery obstruction;
- pathologies of the thyroid gland;
- interruption 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, the one that develops under the influence of provoking factors. Signs of hypertension usually appear after the age of 35-40 years. The primary subtype of the disease is directly caused by congenital pathologies of the blood vessels or the heart. The following factors also increase the risk of developing hypertension:
- age over 55 years;
- obesity;
- elevated cholesterol levels;
- genetic predisposition;
- diabetes mellitus;
- hormonal disorders;
- frequent stress and depression.
Blood pressure levels are directly affected by diet. Certain foods – dark chocolate, coffee, alcohol – can cause high blood pressure. Saturated fats, spices and sugar affect the condition of the blood vessels and the chemical composition of the blood, which indirectly affects the increase in blood pressure. It has been proven that smoking often leads to disease.
Which doctor should I contact?
The appearance of hypertension symptoms requires mandatory medical intervention in the earliest stages. The delay can provoke the development of complications and in the future lead to such serious conditions 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 root causes, 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 cope with it, 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 concerned about?
- How long ago did they start appearing?
- How often do hypertensive attacks occur?
- Are they related to any external factors?
- Does the patient have heart, kidney or endocrine disease?
- What kind of life does he lead?
- What symptomatic treatment does he use for attacks?
After that, there will be an external examination with listening to the heart and blood pressure measurement. In addition, laboratory tests of urine and blood, hardware tests and differential diagnostic tools are used.
Disease treatment methods
The scheme for the impact of 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 purpose of the influence depends on this. The entirety of this information allows the specialist to build an optimal individual treatment plan. It most often involves the following steps:
- body weight control through diet;
- performing physical exercises of different intensity;
- taking diuretic drugs;
- use of anti-tachycardia drugs;
- taking adrenergic blockers;
- the use of antispasmodics and sedatives;
- the use of drugs 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 drugs, while the second and third stages require rather large doses or strong drugs. For the treatment of high blood pressure, only conservative therapy is used.
Diagnosis of hypertension
The detection of pathology requires observations for a period of time with continuous monitoring of the results. This makes it possible to determine whether it is of a primary 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, sitting or standing, depending on age. The accuracy is about 85%.
- Daily pressure monitoring is a procedure that allows continuous monitoring over a period of time using portable devices. 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 fluids and the speed of chemical reactions in the body. The accuracy is about 75%.
- X-ray of the chest. Allows you to visually assess the condition of the heart. Accuracy - less than 70%.
For possible pathologies of the heart, an electrocardiogram is prescribed. In addition, 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
Symptoms of hypertension affect a significant part 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 carried by the fluid current. Severe attacks of hypertension can provoke the following problems:
- vascular deformities;
- coronary heart disease;
- kidney pathologies;
- the threat of stroke and heart attack;
- blurred vision due to damage to the eye vessels;
- the development of "pulmonary heart";
- exercise intolerance.
The possibility of complications of different severity depends on the stage of the disease. In the initial and middle stages, attacks can be accompanied 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 seizures, heart attacks and strokes.
Groups at risk
Many people ask what kind of disease hypertension is, since 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 threshold 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 heavy physical activity or, conversely, with a lack of it;
- people with a genetic predisposition to high blood pressure;
- live in environmentally polluted areas;
- smokers and alcohol abusers;
- people who do not monitor the content of fats and carbohydrates in their food;
- those 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 difficult working conditions, the risk for the stronger sex is slightly higher. In women, the disease usually develops in 55-60 years, and in men - in 65-70 years.
Prevention of hypertension
Protecting yourself from cardiovascular diseases is not always easy, as many of them are caused by innate characteristics of the body 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 beneficial. The recommendations are:
- immediately treat all diseases that provoke hypertension - heart, blood vessels, blood, kidneys;
- stick to the daily routine;
- avoid lack of sleep and overwork;
- keep a healthy diet - avoid fatty and cholesterol foods, alcoholic drinks, 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 be prevented only by maintaining the general well-being of the body. Several systems affect the formation of this disease, so prevention with pills or exercises alone will not be effective. An important stage in its implementation is the timely diagnosis of accompanying and provoking factors.