Hypertension

Hypertension is persistently elevated blood pressure above normal, usually above 140/90 millimeters of mercury.

Essential arterial hypertension is another name for it. It represents more than ninety percent of the cases of arterial hypertension. In the remaining cases, secondary arterial hypertension is diagnosed. These include renal stress up to 4%, endocrine up to 0. 4%, hemodynamic and neurological, which are caused by the intake of iatrogenic substances. There is also hypertension in pregnant women, in which increased blood pressure is one of the symptoms of the underlying disease.

Among various types of iatrogenic hypertension, the methods of various dietary supplements and contraceptives differ. In general, the occurrence of hypertension contribute to more than 25 combinations in the genetic code of the human body.

Causes of hypertension

When doctors talk about the cause of hypertension, they admit that the cause of its occurrence is still unclear. Therefore, this disease is also called essential or, a disease with an unclear etiology.

Theories that exist in our time and that try to explain the appearance of hypertension are in themselves untenable and can lead a person to a desperate situation (when all methods have been tried), without explaining anything neither concretely nor scientifically. The patient, to put it mildly, receives treatment for the sake of treatment. A person is almost constantly forced to resort to the help of drugs to relieve the state of hypertension.

In the human body, there is a so-called system that regulates blood pressure. It can also increase for various reasons. In case of an increase in blood pressure, the walls of vessels such as the aortic arch or the carotid artery become very tense. Because of this, the receptors located on them become irritated. The resulting excitation, passing through the nerves, reaches the medulla oblongata. There is a vasomotor center. The activity of depressor neurons, as opposed to pressor neurons, will increase, causing blood vessels to dilate and blood pressure to drop. In the case of a decrease in blood pressure, such processes occur in complete contrast. This explains the normal process of increasing and decreasing blood pressure in the human body. Without a reason, the pressure will not increase. Everything in the body is interconnected.

Causes of hypertension include:

1. Obesity and overweight. People with this problem very often have an increase in blood pressure and, as a result, hypertension. As a rule, people with such disorders in the body's metabolism should monitor it.
2. In five percent of patients, the causes of hypertension may be disorders of the kidneys or the thyroid gland.
3. If a person is not overweight and is thin. You do not have problems with the kidneys and the thyroid gland, then the cause of hypertension may be a lack of magnesium in the body.
4. Hypertension is caused in five percent of patients: a tumor of the adrenal glands, a tumor of the pituitary gland, poisoning with mercury, lead, etc.

In more detail, the main cause of hypertension in most patients is the metabolic syndrome. As a rule, in such patients, the cholesterol content in the blood level is disturbed. Metabolic syndrome is determined by several reasons: an increase in waist circumference (more than 80 cm in women, more than 94 cm in men); an increase in triglycerides (so-called fats) in the blood exceeds 1. 75 mmol per liter, or the patient is already receiving medication to correct the disease; high-density lipoproteins in women should be less than 1. 3 mmol per liter, in men less than 1. 0 mmol per liter; systolic blood pressure exceeds 140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure exceeds 85 mm Hg; the level of glucose in blood taken on an empty stomach is greater than 5. 5 mmol per liter. In total, if hypertension is combined with overweight, then you need to check for the presence of metabolic syndrome.

In addition, the causes of hypertension are: psychological stress, diabetes, kidney and thyroid disease, heredity also plays a role.

Symptoms of hypertension

Clinical manifestations of hypertension disease do not have specific symptoms. Patients for many years may not even guess what disease they have. You will feel a high vitality. Although sometimes they can still be overcome by dizziness, weakness, sometimes with dizziness. But, as a rule, these people believe that it is due to overwork. Complaints arise when, as they are called, target organs are affected. These are the organs that are most sensitive to changes in blood pressure.

The appearance of headaches and dizziness in a person, noises in the head, decreased working capacity and memory indicate initial changes in the cerebral blood supply. Later, double vision, flies before the eyes, weakness, slurred speech, numbness of arms and legs join, but at the initial level, these changes in blood supply are of a future nature.

If the stage of hypertension is far advanced, it can bring complications in the form of a heart attack or stroke. The earliest and most consistent sign of high blood pressure is an increase (hypertrophy) of the left ventricle of the heart muscle. In this regard, an increase in its mass is accompanied by the fact that the walls of the vessels thicken. First, the thickness of the wall of the left ventricle thickens, then the expansion of the heart chamber of this ventricle occurs. The same goes for hypertension. Otherwise, this condition may be called cardiac hypertension or hypertensive heart disease. With this form of hypertension, macroscopic morphological changes in the aorta (atherosclerosis) can join, it can expand, as a result of which it can rupture or dissect. Hypertension of the heart in this regard is very insidious.

A common sign or symptom of hypertension is, of course, a headache. And as the most characteristic sign of this disease, with its further progression, it can appear at different times of the day (patients often complain at night and the time after waking up from sleep). The nature of the headache may be a pounding or heaviness in the occipital region, and may also involve other areas of the head. With hypertension, there may be swelling of the legs, which also indicates heart failure. Also, they can be a sign of kidney failure.

arterial hypertension

Arterial hypertension is the most common disease of the entire cardiovascular system. The word "hypertension" refers to blood pressure that remains constantly elevated. An increase in blood pressure occurs when there is a narrowing of the arteries and arterioles.

An artery is the main transport route through which blood reaches all tissues of the body. In many people, the arterioles very often constrict. Initially due to spasm, and subsequently, its lumen remains almost constantly narrowed due to wall thickening. And then, in order for the blood flow to overcome the constrictions, a greater effort is applied, as a result of which the work of the heart muscle increases, and a large amount of blood flows into the vascular bed. These people tend to suffer from hypertension more often.

This condition is chronic. In about 1 in 10 hypertensive patients, high blood pressure is caused by damage to a specific organ.

In these cases, we are talking about symptomatic arterial hypertension, or as it is also called secondary. About 90 percent of patients suffer from an essential form of hypertension, or as it is called primary. Patients with high blood pressure very often suffer from headaches.

With high blood pressure, a hypertensive crisis is a frequent occurrence. There are two types of hypertensive crisis:

• The first stage of the crisis (when an immediate reduction in blood pressure is required) is classified as: hypertrophic encephalopathy, acute left ventricular failure, acute aortic dissection, eclampsia, postcoronary arterial bypass. In some cases, hypertension is observed, which combines an increase in the level of catecholamines circulating in the blood.
• In the second stage of the crisis (when the conditions required to lower blood pressure within 12-24 hours): malignant arterial hypertension without special complications, high hypertension, characterized by an increase in diastolic pressure above 140 mm Hg .

Emergency cupirization of a hypertensive crisis is carried out in conditions in which it appears: a convulsive form (hypertensive encephalopathy), a crisis in the presence of pheochromocytoma, a crisis in myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary edema, aortic aneurysm.

Studies prescribed by a doctor for high blood pressure should include: an eye fundus examination, a kidney function study, a heart study. He can also prescribe antihypertensive therapy to patients, which will help identify complications that can occur during hypertension (hypertension).

Degrees of hypertension

To correctly diagnose hypertension, physicians must first determine the degree or stage of hypertension in a patient and make, so to speak, a proper entry in his or her medical history. If the diagnosis of hypertension disease occurred in the late, second or third stages, the consequences for the body may be more serious than for the first stage of the disease. But, nevertheless, few of the patients go to the doctor in the early or early stages of the disease. And, in general, few people measure their own blood pressure at home.

Determine: normal blood pressure, in which the systolic blood pressure, in which the indicator is less than 130 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure, in which the values are less than 85 mm Hg. High normal, in which the systolic blood pressure, in which the indicator is 130-140 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure, in which the indicators are 85-90 mm Hg.

• 1 degree (mild) hypertension, in which the systolic blood pressure has an indicator of 140-160 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure, in which the indicators are 90-100 mmHg;
• Second degree (moderate) hypertension, in which the systolic blood pressure has an indicator of 160-180 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure, in which the indicators are 100-110 mmHg;
• Grade 3 (severe) hypertension, in which the systolic blood pressure is greater than 180 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure, in which the values are greater than 110 mm Hg.

stages of hypertension

First stage hypertension: characterized by an increase in blood pressure of up to 160/100 mm, which can occur in a few days or weeks. But under favorable conditions, it usually drops to a normal level.

At this stage, there are usually no symptoms of the disease. Sometimes there may be complaints of recurring headaches, trouble sleeping, mild heart pain.

In the second stage of hypertension, the pressure rises to 180/100 mm. Even if the patient rests, it does not drop to a normal level. In addition to increased blood pressure, there may be a narrowing of the retinal artery, hypertrophy of the left ventricle of the heart, the appearance of protein in the urine during the analysis, and a slight increase in plasma creatine. There may be headache, dizziness, sleep disturbances, angina, shortness of breath. With this stage may come misfortunes such as heart attacks, strokes. At this stage, it is necessary to take medication for hypertension.

In the third stage of hypertension, there is an increase in blood pressure to 180/110 mm and above. Almost all patients experience (severe) changes in the internal organs. There are frequent episodes of shortness of breath, angina pectoris, heart rhythm disturbances, headaches, dizziness, sleep and hearing disorders, vision and memory impairment. Development of kidney and heart failure. Strokes and heart attacks are guaranteed. Urgent treatment is required.

hypertension treatment

There are two methods of treating hypertension: pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment.

There are various treatments for hypertension, but treatment should begin with the treatment of diseases whose symptoms are secondary hypertension, as well as the symptomatic components of hypertension. The non-pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension consists of following a salt-restricted diet, a favorable regimen of rest and work, coping with stressful situations, refraining from drinking alcohol and quitting smoking, and normalizing body weight. Only with a low efficiency of this method, drug therapy should be connected.

The goal of drug therapy is to lower blood pressure, that is, to eliminate the cause of this vascular condition. At the start of treatment, monotherapy and combination therapy are appropriate. When it is ineffective, I use low-dose combinations of antihypertensive drugs. The first line of treatment is prescription drugs that improve prognosis.

• beta blockers. This is an outdated group of drugs that have a hypotensive effect by reducing heart rate and blood volume per minute. They improve the work of the heart in its ischemic disease. But a side effect of such drugs is bronchospasm, so in our time most doctors are moving away from this method of treatment as monotherapy. And also with long-term use, they contribute to the development of diabetes and erectile dysfunction.
• diureticsSaluretics, drugs that remove sodium and chloride ions from the body, are also used for the treatment of hypertension. But most diuretic drugs cause the excretion of potassium from the body. It is best to combine them.
• Potassium antagonists. It is used to prevent brain damage. In no case should you self-medicate in case of hypertension.

Only a doctor can prescribe the correct means of treating hypertension after a properly conducted examination.

In general, although hypertension is not completely curable, it can be said with confidence that good results in treatment can be achieved with the coordinated work of the patient and the attending physician. It is possible to achieve a stable improvement in the state of the vascular system and the work of the heart, as well as improve the level of cholesterol in the blood, which will also contribute to a good relief of the patient's condition. Compliance with the absolute instructions and recommendations of the doctor will help the patient get rid of many of the symptoms that this insidious disease can provide.

diet for hypertension

Rational nutrition is a diet that maintains health. It also satisfies all of the human body's needs for vitamins, nutrients, and minerals, as well as energy.

The work of the entire cardiac system is closely related to the processes of digestion. With hypertension, the diet has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the patient. A large meal can overfill the stomach and therefore displace the diaphragm, making it harder for the heart to work. Excess fluid also creates a large load. Well, if the diet is overfilled with a large amount of sodium chloride, then water is retained in the body's tissues, and this causes an increase in blood pressure, which sometimes also leads to swelling of the limbs.

Diet principles. nutrition - adherence to the diet is considered a prerequisite: regular meals at the same time, the best way would also be to adhere to frequent and fractional meals, three to five times a day, which is very important for overweight; it is recommended to eat dinner no later than two hours before bedtime: a rich meal before rest causes the accumulation of excess weight and obesity, and also contributes to restless sleep; Food during diet monitoring should be varied and include products from different sources (vegetable and animal).

What needs to be limited:

• Salt. It is recommended to limit it to the minimum volumes and only slightly add already cooked dishes. In general, salt itself causes fluid retention in the body and contributes to the accumulation of excess body weight. When dieting, it is usually taken at the rate of five grams a day. For an increase in blood pressure, it is recommended to take salt of the "preventive" type, that is, with a reduced sodium content. It may also contain essential minerals for health such as magnesium, iodine and potassium ions. Products in which a low sodium content is found are products of plant origin: fish, cottage cheese, meat. Prepared foods like cheese or sausage contain an incredible amount of salt. It is ten times more in them than in natural meat. If the food is not salty or has no salt, its flavor can be improved by adding cranberries, citric acid, parsley, cinnamon, coriander or dill. Salt restriction is very important in the diet for the treatment of hypertension.
• Liquid. Reduce the volume of drink to one liter per day, including compote, soup, milk and tea. The purpose of this restriction is to unload the work of the heart muscle and the work of the kidneys. You should also limit the intake of substances that excite the work of the cardiovascular system. These substances include caffeine and other tonic substances. They can cause heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and insomnia. Also be careful with instant coffee as it contains much more caffeine than regular coffee. Animal fat intake should be limited to 25 grams per day. Hypertension and atherosclerosis are closely related. High blood pressure contributes to the development of such a disease as atherosclerosis, and itself can occur against its background. To combat this syndrome it is necessary to reduce the consumption of animal fats, rich in saturated fatty acids, and replace them with vegetable oils (olive, sunflower, cottonseed, etc. ). Patients should avoid eating foods that contain cholesterol (kidneys, liver, fatty meats, egg yolks).
• Sugar. The sugar restriction should be up to 40 grams per day. Its excess is implicated in the development of atherosclerosis.
• Bakery products. Patients with hypertension are often overweight. In this case, it is necessary to reduce the caloric content of food products, thereby limiting not only the consumption of sugar, but also limiting the consumption of jam, flour products, white bread, etc. In such cases, a very effective remedy such as fasting days is welcome. But again, only on the recommendation of a doctor observing the patient. You can organize fasting days once a week. That is, absolutely nothing to eat, only water to drink. This will greatly contribute to weight loss. You can also organize cottage cheese days: 400 grams of cottage cheese for five doses, two glasses of kefir, two cups of weak and unsweetened tea. And you can also arrange apple days: two kilograms of apples for five shots.

You should increase your intake of the following:

• Potassium. The products that contain it are very useful in the treatment of hypertension. And there should be more of these products. Potassium improves the functioning of the heart muscle and also helps remove excess fluid. Potassium salts can be found in large quantities in vegetables, fruits and berries, as well as in juices. They are also rich in cabbage, potatoes, pumpkin, apricots, prunes, raisins, dried apricots, rose hips.
• Magnesium. It is necessary to provide magnesium to the body. It is, like potassium, necessary in the treatment of hypertension. Magnesium salts have a vasodilating effect, which contributes to the prevention of vasospasm. This macronutrient is found in bran bread and rye bread, as well as oats, wheat, millet, buckwheat, barley, beets, carrots, lettuce, parsley, black currants, walnuts and almonds.
• Iodine. Iodine also has a good effect on metabolism and metabolism in general in hypertension. Foods that contain iodine: fish, algae, squid. Salt restriction, providing the body with a sufficient amount of products containing magnesium and potassium salts, which are among the main features of therapeutic and preventive nutrition for arterial hypertension.

In general, the ratio of diet and treatment should be agreed with the doctor who observes the patient, since if any prescription is violated, there can be serious consequences for the body.

Home remedies for hypertension.

The treatment of home remedies for hypertension is very, very effective. Its effect will be more and more lasting and positive, but only if the patient leads a healthy lifestyle and follows a strict diet.

How exactly to treat home remedies for hypertension?

Herbal decoctions, as well as infusions for the treatment of hypertension, which are prepared according to folk recipes, are recommended by doctors to use for quite a long time. You can take breaks of five or ten days every two or three months. The composition of these fees and decoctions includes special plants to lower blood pressure. They also have sedative, sedative, diuretic and antispasmodic effects. Such collections contain a plurality of certain compounds that have a beneficial effect on our body. They are called biologically active compounds. They include: macroelements and microelements, vitamins, phytoncides, organic acids and other substances.

Examples of popular recipes used for hypertension:

1. Peeled onions - three kilograms, flower honey - half a kilo, vodka - half a liter, split walnuts - about thirty pieces. The preparation method involves squeezing the juice from the onion, mixing it with honey and adding walnut partitions to this mixture. All this is poured with vodka and infused for about ten days. After that, this infusion can be taken three times a day, one tablespoon.
2. One lemon, two glasses of beet juice, one and a half glasses of cranberry juice, one glass of vodka, 250 grams of flower honey. All this mix and take a tablespoon on an empty stomach twice a day.
3. Take half a glass of honey and chopped beets. Mix everything together and take one tablespoon before meals three times a day for three months.

Also, bee venom has good diuretic properties and blocks spasms of blood vessels, expanding them. This action leads to a decrease in blood pressure. Therefore, it is also recommended to sting the limbs with bees twice a week.

Traditional medicine gives recommendations on the use of royal jelly and propolis. They are good powerful antioxidants, and they also reduce fatigue and help cleanse the body, increasing its resistance to nervous and physical stress.

In the treatment of hypertension, the fruits of chokeberry are also prescribed. They can be cooked in the form of jelly, compotes, fruit drinks, syrups and even jams. The juice of these fruits has a great therapeutic effect, which is taken half an hour before meals three times a day.