Arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) is common worldwide. In our country, 40% of the adult population suffers from hypertension and only 21% are treated effectively.
Hypertension, essential hypertension, arterial hypertension or arterial hypertension?
Previously, the term high blood pressure was used in our country. The term arterial hypertension or arterial hypertension has been used for some time now, based on the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO).
What is high blood pressure?
You can speak of arterial hypertension if your doctor detects an increase in blood pressure during at least 3 check-up blood pressure measurements.
Normally, pressure values can fluctuate depending on a person's condition: increasing during physical or psycho-emotional stress, decreasing during sleep. However, the pressure returns to normal values from 100/60 to 140/90.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
The main symptom of high blood pressure is headaches. This happens due to narrowing and spasm of the blood vessels in the brain. Other common symptoms of high blood pressure:
- Tinnitus
- Flying "flies" and a veil in front of the eyes
- General weakness
- Sleep disorder
- dizziness
- Feeling of heaviness in the head
- heart palpitations
Such symptoms occur at an early stage of hypertension and are neurotic in nature. In the later stages of hypertension, heart failure can occur due to the constant overload of the heart muscle due to high blood pressure.
As the disease process progresses, high blood pressure may cause deterioration in visual acuity and damage to the blood vessels in the brain. This can, in some cases, lead to paralysis and reduced sensitivity of the limbs, which occur due to vascular spasm, bleeding or thrombosis.
Causes of high blood pressure
If the cause of the increase in blood pressure is not clear, it is called primary (essential) hypertension or essential hypertension. The following factors play a role in its development:
- Hereditary predisposition
- Chronic stress
- Amount of salt consumed
- Low physical activity, etc.
- In women, the restructuring of the body during menopause can be the cause of high blood pressure.
The underlying cause is difficult to determine on a case-by-case basis because most people diagnosed with high blood pressure are exposed to multiple risk factors that contribute to high blood pressure.
Up to 5% of arterial hypertension is secondary (symptomatic), i. e. caused by specific causes. Most often, renal pathologies, endocrine pathologies or large vessel anomalies lead to increased blood pressure.
Examination of patients is aimed at excluding secondary causes of hypertension, since sometimes they can be eliminated or require specific treatment.
In addition, the examination clarifies changes in organs and systems that are caused by the arterial hypertension itself. High blood pressure leads to changes in the heart, kidneys, cerebral vessels and fundus vessels. Such an inspection must be carried out regularly, at least once a year.
The extent of arterial hypertension and target organ damage determines the risk of cardiovascular complications. Depending on the degree of risk, treatment tactics are determined: from lifestyle changes to diet and weight loss to the immediate start of drug therapy.
It is important to monitor your blood pressure not only when visiting the doctor, but also on your own.
How do you measure pressure?
How to measure blood pressure:
- Blood pressure should be measured at rest, after a 5-minute break and while sitting
- The tonometer cuff should be at heart level, its lower edge 2 cm above the elbow
- Blood pressure should be measured daily and recorded in a blood pressure diary.
Treatment of high blood pressure
A blood pressure control program consists of lifestyle changes and drug therapy. To change your lifestyle you need to do the following:
- Regular physical activity up to 30 minutes a day
- Low calorie diet and weight loss
- Reducing salt intake
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Reducing your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol-rich foods
- Increasing fruit consumption
- Quit smoking
If blood pressure is high, drug therapy is prescribed immediately. Most patients need to take two or more medications.
Treatment of patients with arterial hypertension is carried out continuously, since its abolition leads to an increase in blood pressure again.