Arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) is widespread throughout the world. In our country, 40% of the adult population has high blood pressure and only 21% is treated effectively.
Hypertension, essential hypertension, arterial hypertension or arterial hypertension?
Previously, the term hypertension was used in our country. For some time now, according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), the term arterial hypertension or arterial hypertension has been used.
What is hypertension?
You can be said to have high blood pressure if an increase in blood pressure is recorded by your doctor during at least 3 control blood pressure measurements.
Normally, pressure numbers can vary depending on the person's condition: increase during physical or psycho-emotional stress, decrease during sleep. However, the pressure returns to normal numbers of 100/60 to 140/90.
Symptoms of hypertension
The main symptom of hypertension is headache. This occurs due to the narrowing and spasm of blood vessels in the brain. Also common symptoms of hypertension:
- Tinnitus
- Flying "flies" and a veil before the eyes
- General weakness
- Sleep disorder
- Dizziness
- Feeling of heaviness in the head
- Palpitations
These symptoms occur at an early stage of hypertension and are neurotic in nature. In the later stages of hypertension, heart failure may occur due to constant overwork of the heart muscle due to high blood pressure.
Due to the progression of the disease process, there may be a decrease in visual acuity, damage to the blood vessels of the brain due to hypertension, which in some cases can lead to paralysis, a decrease in the sensitivity of the limbs, which occurs due to vasospasm, hemorrhage or thrombosis.
Causes of hypertension
If the cause of the increase in blood pressure is not established, it is called primary (essential) hypertension, or essential hypertension. The following play a role in its development:
- Hereditary predisposition
- Chronic stress
- Amount of salt consumed
- Low physical activity, etc.
- In women, the cause of hypertension may be the period of restructuring of the body during menopause.
The underlying cause is difficult to determine in any case because most people diagnosed with hypertension are exposed to multiple risk factors that contribute to hypertension.
Up to 5% of high blood pressure is secondary (symptomatic), that is, caused by certain causes. Most often, renal pathology, endocrine pathology or anomalies of large vessels lead to increased blood pressure.
Examination of patients aims to exclude secondary causes of hypertension, as sometimes these causes can be eliminated or require specific treatment.
Furthermore, the exam clarifies changes in organs and systems caused by high blood pressure itself. High blood pressure leads to changes in the heart, kidneys, cerebral vessels and fundal vessels. This examination must be carried out regularly, at least once a year.
The level of arterial hypertension and damage to target organs determine the risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Depending on the degree of risk, treatment tactics are determined: from changes in lifestyle, diet and weight loss to the immediate start of drug therapy.
It's important to monitor your blood pressure not only when you go to the doctor, but also on your own.
How to measure pressure?
How to measure blood pressure:
- Blood pressure should be measured at rest, after 5 minutes of rest, sitting
- The tonometer cuff should be at heart level, with its lower edge 2 cm above the elbow
- Blood pressure should be measured every day and recorded in a blood pressure diary.
Treatment of hypertension
A blood pressure control program consists of lifestyle changes and drug therapy. Changing your lifestyle involves:
- Regular physical activity up to 30 minutes per day
- Low-calorie diet and weight loss
- Reducing salt intake
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Reduce your intake of saturated fatty acids and foods high in cholesterol
- Increase fruit consumption
- Quit smoking
Drug therapy is prescribed immediately if the blood pressure level is elevated. Most patients need to take 2 or more medications.
The treatment of patients with high blood pressure is carried out continuously, as its cancellation will again lead to an increase in blood pressure.