Hypertension (increased pressure)

An increase in pressure above age rate is correct to call arterial hypertension.

If the pressure increases frequently or for a long time, and during examination, it is not possible to identify the causes of this, then hypertension is diagnosed.If a person has a disease that causes increased pressure (for example, traumatic brain damage in the past, kidney disease, etc.), then they talk about secondary arterial hypertension.However, in collapse, all cases of increased pressure are often called hypertension.

Hypertension is known as a "quiet killer", as there are not always obvious symptoms, especially in the early stages.It is proven that increased pressure has 20-30 % of the adult population, though many do not know about their illness for a long time.If hypertension is not treated, the risks of a heart attack or a stroke increase.The only way to learn about the presence of a problem isregularly measure blood pressure.

Blood pressure is the power by which blood suppresses against the walls of the blood vessels and the heart.With hypertension, blood pressure on the arteries and the heart becomes too high, which leads to premature clothing of these organs and increases the risk of other diseases, for example, impaired kidney or brain function.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (MM Hg) and is fixed in two dimensions:

• Systolic pressure - blood pressure for the moment your heart decreases and pushes blood into the arteries;
• Diastolic pressure - blood pressure at the time of relaxation of the heart muscle between the two contractions.

For example, if your doctor says your blood pressure is "140 from 90", it means that your systolic pressure is 140 mm Hg.Art, and diastolic pressure - 90 mm Hg.Art.

Optimal blood pressure in an adult is considered to be less than 120/80 mm Hg.Art.However, within the rate there are numbers in 139/89 comprehensive.If, according to the results of some measurements, your pressure exceeds 140/90 comprehensive, you have arterial hypertension, an additional examination is required and, perhaps, treatment.

Symptoms of arterial hypertension (hypertension)

An increase in blood pressure is not always associated with a change in well -being.The only way to find out if you have hypertension is to measure blood pressure.Adults should control their blood pressure at least once every five years.

If you are pregnant, it is important to constantly check your blood pressure, even if it is not high.Observation of blood pressure during pregnancy reduces the risk of complications.Increased blood pressure in a pregnant woman can lead to preeclampsia.This is a dangerous condition in which there is a problem with the placenta (the organ that ensures the circulation of the unborn baby's blood).

Sometimes the symptoms of high pressure are:

• headache;
• darkening or double in the eye;
• Nose bleeding;
• dyspne.

Such signs appear in people with very high pressure.If you find any of these symptoms, consult a doctor.Without treatment, arterial hypertension can lead to serious illness, including stroke and heart attacks.Immediately make an appointment with the therapist if you find any of these symptoms or increased pressure.If the symptoms are significantly expressed, call an ambulance.

Causes of hypertension (arterial hypertension)

In more than 90% of cases, the cause of increased blood pressure cannot be established.Then hypertension is called essential or primary.Factors that may increase the risk of primary hypertension from you include:

• Age: The risk of developing hypertension increases with age;
• There have been cases of hypertension in your family (the disease may be hereditary);
• Excess salt in your diet;
• lack of physical exercise;
• fullness;
• smoking;
• alcohol abuse;
• stress

Known causes of hypertension

About 10% of high pressure cases are the result of a particular disease or a specific cause.These cases relate to secondary hypertension.The typical causes of pressure in this case are:

• Kidney disease;
• diabetes mellitus;
• narrowing of the arteries that supply the kidneys;
• Hormonal diseases, such as Kushing's syndrome (a disease in which the body produces many steroid hormones);
• Diseases that affect the connective tissue of the body, for example, systemic lupus erythematosus;
• contraceptives (oral contraceptives);
• soothing soothing, known as non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
• club medicines, such as cocaine, amphetamines and crystalline metafetamines;
• Some herbal medicines, herbal additives.

Diagnosis of hypertension

To diagnose arterial hypertension and identify its possible causes, mainly turn to systemic blood pressure measurement.This can be done by both a medical and independent way, using a home apparatus for measuring pressure.

Healthy people in the age of more than 40 years should measure their blood pressure at least once every five years.If you have an increased risk of hypertension, you should often check your blood pressure, ideally once a year.

Checking blood pressure is usually easy to perform in most clinics and hospitals.Blood pressure is usually measured using a tonometer (pressure gauge), a device consisting of a stethoscope, a handcuff, an measuring device, an air injection and valve.

The cuff is wrapped around the shoulder and pumped to limit the blood flow to the artery.Then the air in the handcuffs begins to slow down as it listens to the pulse with a stethoscope.Listening to your pulse in a place below air cuffs of origin allows you to get reliable data on your blood pressure readings.Furthermore, automatic (digital) tonometters are now common, which measure pressure and pulse using electrical sensors.

Before continuing with blood pressure measurement, you should rest for at least five minutes and empty your bladder.To get the proper evidence of blood pressure, you need to sit down and not speak during manipulation.

If you have found increased blood pressure with one of the measurements, then this does not mean you have hypertension.During the day, the blood pressure level can fluctuate.Pressure can increase during your doctor because of anxiety and stress.In these cases, it is recommended to measure the pressure during the day, using a tonometer at home.By excluding the "white robe fear", you can get more objective indicators.

You can also take blood and urine tests to control the presence of diseases that increase the risk of high blood pressure, for example, kidney disease.

Deciphering the readings of the Tonometer

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury mercury (mm rt. Art.) And is fixed in two ranks:

• Systolic pressure - blood pressure for the moment your heart decreases and pushes blood into the arteries;
• Diastolic pressure - blood pressure at the time of relaxation of the heart muscle between the two contractions.

For example, if your systolic blood pressure is 140 mm Hg.Art, and diastolic blood pressure is 90 mm Hg.Art., Then they say that your pressure is 140 by 90.

Ideally, blood pressure should be less than 120/80.However, indications below 140/90 are generally considered normal.If you have a kidney disease, diabetes or heart disease and the circulatory system, your target blood pressure should be below 130/80 mm Hg.Art.

If the pressure indicators for a few days are higher than the 140/90 sign - you have arterial hypertension and a further examination is required.

High pressure treatment

Effective actions to reduce blood pressure are in a change in lifestyle and medication.The choice of treatment regimen will depend on the blood pressure level and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

If your blood pressure is slightly higher than 130/80 mm Hg.Art., And at the same time, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in your low vascular diseases, then you should be able to reduce pressure only by making certain changes in your lifestyle.

If your blood pressure is moderately high (140/90 mm Hg or higher), and there is a risk of developing cardiovascular disease in you over the next 10 years, then treatment will include medication and your lifestyle adjustment.

If your blood pressure is too high (180/110 mm Hg or higher), then in the near future you need treatment, perhaps with an additional examination, depending on the condition of your health.

Lifestyle with arterial hypertension

Below are some changes you can make in your lifestyle in order to reduce the pressure.Some of them will lead to rapid improvement within a few weeks, others will affect a longer period.

• Reduce salt consumption to less than 6 grams per day.
• Eat a healthy, low, low, balanced food in composition, including many fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Be active: Maintaining physical activity is one of the main things you need to do to prevent or control hypertension.
• Reduce alcohol consumption.
• Refuse smoking.Smoking significantly increases the chance of developing lungs and heart disease.
• I lose weight.
• Drink less coffee, tea or other caffeine drinks, such as Kola.Using more than four cups of coffee a day can increase blood pressure.
• Try to use such relaxation techniques as yoga, meditation and stress management (autogenic training).

The more healthy habits you will master, the more positive there will be.In practice, some people discover that when they maintain a healthy lifestyle, they usually need to take medication.

Hypertension drug treatment

There is a wide selection of medication reduction pressure.You may need to take more than one type of drug, because sometimes treatment of hypertension needs a combination of some medicines.

In some cases, you will need to put pressure by reducing pressure throughout your life.However, if your blood pressure level remains under control over several years, you will be able to stop medicinal treatment.Most high -pressure medicines can cause side effects, but this problem can be solved by replacing the medication taken.

Tell your doctor if you have any of the following side effects of taking the drug:

• a sense of drowsiness;
• kidney pain (in the lower back);
• dry cough;
• dizziness, exhaustion or lethargy;
• Raw on the skin.

Below are the most used medicines for high pressure.

1. Angiotensin reproduction enzymes inhibitors (APF)Lower blood pressure by relaxing the walls of the blood vessels.The most common side effect is a persistent dry cough.If the side effects begin to worry too much, medicines such as angiotensin-2 receptor antagonists may recommend, whose action is similar to the action of ACE inhibitors.

   ACE inhibitors can cause unforeseen side effects if taken together with others, including excess medication.Before taking any additional medicine, consult a doctor if combining them of adverse side effects will cause them.

2. Calcium channel blockers(Calcium antagonists) prevent calcium in the cells of the heart muscle tissue and blood vessels.This leads to the expansion of your arteries (large blood vessels) and a decrease in blood pressure.

   Using grapefruit juice when taking some types of calcium channel blockers can increase the risk of side effects.You can discuss this issue with your doctor in more detail.

3. Diuretics(Diuretics) act due to the secretion of excess fluid and salt from the body.

4. Beta blockers (beta-blockers)They act by reducing the frequency and strength of the heart contractions, thereby reducing blood pressure.Previously, beta-blockers were a popular remedy for high pressure, but they are currently commonly used only when other tools do not have the required effect.This is due to the fact that beta-blockers are considered less effective than other types of adult pressure medication.

   Beta blockers can also affect the effect of other medicines, causing side effects.Consult your doctor before taking other medicines in combination with beta-blockers.

   Do not stop taking beta blockers suddenly without consulting your doctor.This can lead to serious side effects, such as an increase in blood pressure or an attack of angina pectoris.

5. Alpha blocker (alpha-blocking)Usually, they are not recommended as a medicine for the first choice to reduce high blood pressure, except when other medicines do not have the right effect.Alpha blockers act by relaxing the blood vessels, significantly facilitating the blood flow within them.

   The usual side effects of alpha blockers include:

   • dimming in the first drug administration ("first dose effect");
   • dizziness;
   • headache;
   • swelling of the ankles;
   • fatigue.

Complications of hypertension

Increased blood pressure exerts an additional load on your heart and blood vessels.If hypertension is not treated, after a certain time the risk of developing heart attack, stroke and kidney disease increases.

Cardiovascular disease for hypertension

Hypertension can cause many different diseases of the heart and blood vessels and vessels (cardiovascular disease), including:

• stroke;
• myocardial infarction;
• Embolia: occurs when a blood clot or an air bubble blocks a blood flow in a vessel;
• Aneurysm: develops when the vascular wall extends and can explode at any time, causing internal bleeding.

Kidney disease and increased pressure

Hypertension can also lead to damage to small blood vessels to the kidneys and damage their function.This complication can cause symptoms such as:

• fatigue;
• edema of the ankles of the feet, legs or hands (due to the delay of water in the body);
• dyspne;
• the presence of blood in the urine;
• frequent urination, especially at night;
• Itching of the skin.

Kidney diseases are treated with food and nutritional additives.The most serious cases require dialysis (the treatment procedure in which blood is artificially cleaned of toxic metabolism products in the body) or kidney transplantation.

Preventing increased pressure

Development of hypertension can be prevented from a healthy diet, maintaining normal weight, performing regular physical exercises, restrictions on alcohol consumption and refusing smoking.

Smoking itself does not cause high blood pressure, but significantly increases the risks of myocardial infarction and stroke.Smoking, like high blood pressure, leads to narrowing of the arteries.If you smoke in the presence of hypertension, then your arteries will narrow much faster and the risks of developing heart and lung diseases in your future will increase significantly.

High -pressure power supply

Lower the amount of salt in your diet, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.Salt increases the pressure.The more salt you consume, the higher your pressure.Try to eat less than 6 g of salt a day, which is approximately equal to one teaspoon.

As proven, the use of low -fat food and a high fiber content (for example, whole rice with wheat, bread and pasta) and a large amount of fruits and vegetables helps lower blood pressure.Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibers that support your body in a healthy state.Try to eat five servings of 80 g of fruit and vegetables daily.

Regular alcohol drinking is above the norms allowed over time will lead to an increase in your blood pressure.Men are not recommended to use more than 2-4 alcohol services a day regularly, and women more than 2-3.Regular use is intended daily or in most days of the week.1 part of alcohol approximately corresponds to a glass of vodka, half a glass of wine or half a beer mug.

Also, since alcohol is very caloric, its regular use leads to weight gain, and, accordingly, to increase your blood pressure.

If you drink more than four cups of coffee a day, then this can lead to an increase in pressure.If you are a big fan of coffee, tea or other caffeine drinks (such as Coca-Cola and some energy drinks), consider the possibility of reducing their consumption.It is very good when you drink tea and coffee as part of a balanced diet, but it is important that such drinks are not your only source of juice.

Weight and physical exercises for hypertension

Excess weight forces the heart to work more intensively to pump blood throughout the body, which usually leads to an increase in your blood pressure.If you really need to lose overweight, it is important to remember that losing even two or three pounds of weight will lead to a significant change in your blood pressure readings and improve your health in general.

An active lifestyle and regular exercise lead to a decrease in blood pressure while maintaining the heart and blood vessels in good condition.Regular exercise also helps you lose weight, which also helps you reduce blood pressure.

An adult should be spent every week for at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) in moderate open intensity exercises, such as cycling or fast walking.When doing exercises, you should focus on the fact that you should feel warmed and slightly out of breath.A full person, to achieve this condition, may turn out to be a little enough on the hill.Physical activity can include a variety of exercises, from sport to walking and working in the garden.

Relaxation exercises can reduce blood pressure.They include:

• Stress management (autogenic training), meditation or yoga.
• Cognitive-subject psychotherapy, which focuses on how your thoughts and beliefs can affect your well-being and the ability to cope with problems.You can discuss with your doctor the opportunity to undergo such psychotherapy.
• Biological reaction (self -regulation method used to help you in consciously regulating blood pressure): In a small monitor, you will demonstrate heart rate or real -time blood pressure.A reference to biological reactions can be performed by your doctor.

Which doctor to contact hypertension?

If you have increased pressure, find a good therapist who can understand the causes of the disease and prescribe treatment.If you have heart complaints or has chronic cardiovascular disease, choose a cardiologist.