hypertension

Arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) is common throughout the world. In our country, 40% of adults suffer from hypertension, and only 21% receive effective treatment.

Hypertension, essential hypertension, arterial hypertension or arterial hypertension?

Previously, my country used the term hypertension. For some time, the term arterial hypertension or arterial hypertension has been used based on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

What is high blood pressure?

You are said to have arterial hypertension if your doctor notices an increase in blood pressure during at least 3 controlled blood pressure measurements.As a rule, pressure values fluctuate depending on the person's condition: they increase during periods of physical or psycho-emotional stress and decrease during sleep. However, the pressure returned from 100/60 to its normal value of 140/90.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

The main symptom of high blood pressure is headache. This occurs due to narrowing and spasm of blood vessels in the brain. Common symptoms of high blood pressure:

• tinnitus
• Flying "flies" and the veil before your eyes
• common weakness
• sleep disorders
• Dizziness
• feeling of heaviness in head
• Palpitations

These symptoms appear in the early stages of hypertension and are neurotic in nature. In the later stages of hypertension, heart failure may occur due to persistent overwork of the heart muscle caused by high blood pressure.As the disease process progresses, there may be decreased vision, high blood pressure leading to damage to the blood vessels in the brain, which in some cases may lead to paralysis, decreased sensitivity of the limbs, which occurs due to vasospasm, hemorrhage or thrombosis.

causes of high blood pressure

If the cause of the elevated blood pressure has not been determined, they say essential (idiopathic) hypertension or essential hypertension. The following factors play a role in its development:

• genetic predisposition
• chronic stress
• salt consumption
• Less physical activity, etc.
• For women, the cause of high blood pressure may be the body's restructuring period during menopause.

It can be difficult to determine the underlying cause in any given case because most people diagnosed with high blood pressure face multiple risk factors that contribute to it.Up to 5% of arterial hypertension is secondary (symptomatic), that is, due to some cause. Most commonly, renal pathology, endocrine pathology, or macrovascular abnormalities cause elevated blood pressure.The purpose of examining the patient is to rule out secondary causes of hypertension, since sometimes these causes can be eliminated or require special treatment.In addition, examination can identify changes in organs and systems caused by arterial hypertension itself. High blood pressure can cause changes in the heart, kidneys, brain blood vessels, and blood vessels under the eyes. Such inspections must be carried out regularly, at least once a year.The level of arterial hypertension and target organ damage determines the risk of cardiovascular complications. Depending on the level of risk, a treatment strategy is determined: from changes in lifestyle, diet and weight loss to immediate initiation of medication.Not only is it important to monitor your blood pressure when you see your doctor, it's also important to monitor your blood pressure yourself.

How to measure pressure?

How to measure blood pressure:

• Blood pressure should be measured at rest, after 5 minutes of rest, and while sitting
• The tonometer cuff should be positioned at heart level with its lower edge 2 cm from the elbow
• Blood pressure should be measured daily and recorded in a blood pressure diary.

Treatment of high blood pressure

Blood pressure control plans include lifestyle changes and medications. Changes to your lifestyle include:

• Get up to 30 minutes of regular physical activity each day
• Low-calorie diet and weight loss
• Reduce salt intake
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Reduce intake of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol-rich foods
• Increase fruit consumption
• quit smoking

If blood pressure levels are high, medication should be instituted immediately. Most patients need to take two or more medications.Treatment of patients with arterial hypertension is ongoing, since withdrawal of treatment will again lead to an increase in blood pressure.