Risk factors and prevention of hypertension. Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertension

In the modern world, diseases of the cardiovascular system are very common. One such is hypertension. This pathology grows younger every year. If earlier in the risk group there were more and more middle-aged and elderly people, now the arterial hypertension is diagnosed in young people. This disease is called a "silent killer", since it can be asymptomatic for many years. Next, let's talk about who is at risk. What is the prevention of hypertension. And, of course, we will consider the symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

What is hypertension?

Disease arterial hypertension is a chronic pathology with persistent high blood pressure.

A little about how our cardiovascular system works. The heart works like a pump that pumps blood and maintains a constant blood pressure in the vessels. Heart work is influenced by many factors, such as:

• Level of physical activity.
• Emotional condition.
• Hormonal background.
• The volume of blood and the capacity of the vascular bed.

The vascular bed is a system of branched channels through which blood returns back to the heart. Its volume is not constant, because the smallest vessels that are in the walls of the arterioles, in the muscle tissue with a reduction in the lumen of the vessels narrow and can redirect the flow of blood, depending on the needs of the body. The regulation of the vascular tone directly depends on the nervous and hormonal systems. The force that exerts an effect on the walls of blood vessels during blood flow is called pressure.

Arterial hypertension is an increase in the systolic pressure to 140 mm Hg. Art. And more, and diastolic up to 90 mm Hg. and more. Normally, the pressure in an adult is assumed to be 120/80 mm Hg. Art.

Classification of the disease

There are two degrees of hypertension:

• Primary.
• Secondary.

The primary is divided into several degrees. Namely:

• The first degree. In this condition, the organs are not affected, and the hypertensive crisis can happen in very rare cases. The indices in this case are up to 159 / 99mm Hg. Art. Pressure can then go down to normal values, then climb a little higher than indicated.
• The second degree. Arterial pressure up to 179/109 mm Hg. And above these values. Reduced to normal rates for a short time and not often.
• Third degree. The arterial pressure is from 180/110 mm Hg. Art. and higher.

Arterial hypertension 2 degrees and 3, as a rule, already give complications in the form of such violations:

• Atherosclerosis of vessels.
• Asthma.
• Diseases of the heart.
• Pulmonary edema.

Secondary arterial hypertension is accompanied by pathology of internal organs. It is the disruptions in the operation of these systems that provoke steady pressure jumps:

• Pathology of the heart and aorta.
• Tumors of the brain and the consequences of head injury.
• Kidney disease.
• Endocrine pathology.
• Tumor adrenal glands and pituitary gland.
• Removal of two kidneys.

Also, excessive use of certain medications can cause hypertension. What are these drugs:

• "Ephedrine".
• "Fenacetin."
• Contraceptive hormonal drugs.
• Glucortoids.

Therefore, people who suffer from hypertension, before taking a new drug, you should always consult a doctor.

Symptoms of the disease

Different degrees of arterial hypertension are characterized by different symptoms. The history of the disease arterial hypertension often begins with the fact that the patient did not have any serious complaints. However, you should pay attention to the frequently occurring conditions:

• On headaches.
• On the periodic flashing of flies before the eyes.
• Dizziness.
• A state of weakness.
• Redness of the face.
• Severe sweating.
• Frequent nasal bleeding.

Other symptoms are possible. For the first degree of arterial hypertension, internal organs are not affected. However, in order to timely stop the deterioration of the situation, it is necessary to pay attention to the above listed symptoms.

Arterial hypertension of the 2nd degree can provoke the following states:

• Spasmodic of the vessels of the fundus.
• The walls of the left ventricle can be enlarged.
• A protein in the urine may appear.
• There are signs of damage to the walls of large vessels by an atherosclerotic process.

Arterial hypertension of the third degree is characterized by the involvement of pathological processes of the affected organs in the process. The following diseases may occur:

• Heart failure.
• Edema of the optic nerve.
• Angina pectoris.
• Myocardial infarction.
• Development of atherosclerotic processes constriction and obstruction of blood vessels.

Arterial hypertension of the third degree has a significant number of complications.

The manifestations of the secondary form of pathology are more pronounced. The following phenomena are possible:

• Edema.
• Pain in the lumbar region.
• Dysuric phenomena.
• Signs of inflammatory processes in the analysis of blood.
• Changes in the analysis of urine.

Causes of hypertension

This disease can not occur without a reason, like any other. Let's name some reasons:

• Heredity.
• Excess weight.
• Elevated cholesterol.
• Systematic use of alcoholic beverages.
• The use of salt in large quantities.
• Psychoemotional stress.
• Stress.

However, it should be noted that the above reasons are suitable only for primary hypertension. The secondary form develops due to the already existing disease, which provokes an increase in blood pressure. These are, as a rule, such diseases:

• Kidney disease.
• Tumors of the adrenal glands.
• Late toxicosis during pregnancy.
• Use of certain medications.

How to conduct diagnostics of arterial hypertension

Before you make an accurate diagnosis of hypertension, you need to conduct a thorough diagnosis. And at the first visit to the doctor such a diagnosis is not made. With what to begin? Diagnosis of arterial hypertension begins with examination and questioning the patient. It is necessary to identify hereditary diseases, the transferred diseases, what way of life is conducted and many other things.

1. It is necessary to measure and record high blood pressure values. Measure three times, observing all measurement rules.

The history of the disease, arterial hypertension, as a diagnosis is first questioned. The next record of the doctor's visit will not be earlier than 2 weeks. Fading in a short time can create a false picture. If the measurements have boundary figures, then in this case, it is recommended to measure the pressure daily. At the same time, the values are recorded. Such a system allows you to select the necessary drugs to normalize the condition.

After determining the blood pressure, it is necessary to determine how seriously the target organs are affected. Diagnosis of arterial hypertension includes the following additional examinations:

• Ultrasound of the heart, kidney and thyroid.
• General urine analysis.
• Biochemistry of blood.
• Daily proteinuria.
• X-ray examination of the lungs.
• Inspection of the fundus.
• Electrocardiogram.
• Dopplerography of the vessels of the lower extremities.

This diagnosis will help the doctor correctly diagnose and prescribe appropriate treatment. So the doctor should tell you what is the prophylaxis of arterial hypertension.

Risk factors for primary hypertension

There are several risk factors for primary arterial hypertension:

• A large amount of salt in the diet. This factor is especially reflected in the elderly, on those who have obesity with kidney disease, as well as having a genetic predisposition.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Pathology of the arteries. Reducing their elasticity leads to increased pressure. This is typical for people with obesity, little mobility. Also in the elderly and in people with high salt intake.
• Excessive production of renin by a renal apparatus.
• Inflammatory processes promote blood pressure jumps.
• Obesity increases the risk of blood pressure 5 times. More than 85% of those with hypertension have a body mass index of more than 25.
• Diabetes.
• There are observations that snoring can also be a risk factor for hypertension.
• Age factor. With age, the number of collagen fibers increases in the vessels, as a result of the wall of the vessels thickens, and their elasticity is lost.

To reduce risk factors, prevention of hypertension is necessary. Recommendations we will consider a little later.

Risk factors of the secondary form of pathology

We know that secondary hypertension is associated with the pathology of organs and systems. These are such diseases as:

• Narrowing of the renal artery.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Tumors of the adrenal glands.
• Metabolic syndrome.
• Obesity.
• Diseases of the thyroid gland.
• Coarctation of the aorta.
• Pregnancy.
• The use of certain medications.

It should be said that secondary arterial hypertension can contribute to kidney disease in the same way that kidney disease can provoke an increase in blood pressure. The risk of arterial hypertension can be reduced through preventive actions, which we will talk about a little later. Now let's move on to the methods of treatment.

Methods of treatment of hypertension

Therapy of hypertension in the first stage does not involve the use of medications. The doctor can appoint you to follow the diet, reduce salt intake, increase motor activity, weight loss.

However, if, during a second visit to the doctor, high blood pressure persists, or if it continues to grow, the doctor may prescribe the following medications:

• Beta-blockers are prescribed. They help reduce heart rate, thereby reducing pressure. However, people with heart diseases and asthmatics are not allowed to use them.
• Diuretics are used in conjunction with other drugs. They promote the excretion of salt and water from the body.
• Drugs that limit calcium access to muscle cells.
• Blockers of antigonez receptors allow to narrow the vessels as a result of aldosterone production.
• With heart failure and with kidney disease, ACE inhibitors are prescribed.
• Drugs that contribute to the narrowing of arterioles and affect the central nervous system.
• Together with other drugs prescribe drugs of central action.

Prevention of arterial hypertension

If the high blood pressure is observed periodically, measures need to be taken. Referral should be prompt. But you yourself can take some actions that will improve your well-being. These actions can be qualified as prevention of hypertension.

• Control your weight. Discarding extra pounds, you can immediately see a slight decrease in pressure.
• Move more, walk, do exercises.
• Reduce the intake of salt in the diet. Refuse from semi-finished products and canned products.
• Refuse to drink alcoholic beverages.
• There are more vegetables and fruits that contain potassium.
• Eradicate such a harmful habit as smoking.
• Limit the consumption of fatty foods. This will help to lose weight and lower the level of cholesterol in the blood.
• Constantly monitor blood pressure. Visit a doctor and take prescribed medications. It is also necessary to inform the doctor about the changes that occurred when taking medications.
• It is worth remembering that even if the pressure is normal, taking medications should not be stopped. They should be taken regularly.
• Also avoid stressful situations.

Features of treatment and prevention in the elderly

The older the person, the more difficult it is to treat arterial hypertension. For several reasons:

• Vessels are no longer so elastic and easily damaged.
• Already there are atherosclerotic lesions.
• Pathological changes in the kidneys and adrenal glands can cause hypertension.
• The drugs are prescribed very carefully in small doses.
• With ischemic heart disease, it is impossible to reduce the blood pressure to normal.
• Pressure should be measured in a sitting and lying position.

Prevention of hypertension in the elderly is the same:

• In the conduct of a healthy lifestyle.
• The maintenance of cholesterol is normal.
• Move more, walk, do exercises.
• Adhere to proper nutrition.

We have examined what is meant by arterial hypertension. The risk factors and prevention indicated in the article will help to take timely measures to improve health so that you do not have to fight this disease.