According to statistics, high blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular disease.The nature of the course and the possible consequences give reason to classify it as one of the most dangerous pathologies.At the same time, there is no asymptomatic stage in the development of hypertension.That is, if you pay close attention to your health, there is every chance of early diagnosis and timely treatment.The disease is not completely cured, but its progression can be successfully controlled.
Arterial hypertension is a chronic disease, the main symptom of which is persistent hypertension, high blood pressure.Pathology is present if the tonometer measures a blood pressure value of more than 140/90 mm Hg.Art.
Men are more prone to high blood pressure;In the stronger sex, the disease develops at an earlier age.One of the main reasons for this phenomenon is female sex hormones, which inhibit the development of the disease.In the period after menopause, the natural protection disappears and the incidence in women and men levels off.
The symptoms of high blood pressure are almost the same in men and women, but the causes and risk factors for the development of the disease are slightly different.
Changes in blood pressure
Before talking about increased blood pressure, it is advisable to understand what indicators are normal.In children in their first year of life, a blood pressure of 90/40 ± 5 mm Hg is considered normal.Art.With age, the indicators gradually increase and reach 120/80 ± 10 mm Hg. Art.Art.
According to the World Health Organization, the upper limit of normal blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg.Art.
It should be noted that blood pressure values vary depending on the time of day and a person's corresponding physical activity.Blood pressure drops at night and reaches a physiological minimum between midnight and three o'clock.At the end of the working day, around 5:00 p.m., blood pressure reaches its maximum and begins to fall from 8:00 p.m.A situational increase in pressure occurs during unusual or excessive physical activity, in stressful situations, against the background of particularly vivid and strong emotions.
The basis for the examination if high blood pressure is suspected is at least three episodes of elevated blood pressure recorded on different days of the month.To distinguish the disease from other pathologies, instrumental confirmation of increased pressure is required.Early symptoms of hypertension are quite characteristic, but due to a lack of expertise they are mistakenly confused with manifestations of other diseases.In addition, primary hypertension in hypertension should be differentiated from symptomatic (secondary) hypertension, which develops against the background of kidney disease and pathologies of the endocrine system.
Causes and risk factors
The main role in the pathogenesis of hypertension is played by disorders of the regulatory function of the central nervous system, especially the departments that control the functioning of vital organs.
The connection between hypertension and disorders in the processes of nervous regulation is indirectly confirmed by the fact that it is often provoked by persistent and severe states of anxiety, fears, deep nervous shocks and repeated episodes of nervous overstrain.Prerequisites for the development of primary arterial hypertension can be severe disturbances in the daily activity cycle, which are associated with the characteristics of professional activity (night shift work, long working hours), exposure to noise and vibration.
The development of high blood pressure is also promoted by an imbalance in the ion balance caused by excess sodium.Consuming table salt in quantities of more than 5 g per day increases the risk of developing high blood pressure.With a strained heredity, an addiction to salty foods is almost a death sentence.
The predisposition to high blood pressure is genetically determined.Symptoms of high blood pressure occurring in close blood relatives are a fairly clear signal that you need to pay close attention to your health.
High blood pressure and its further progression are also caused by atherosclerosis, obesity, dysfunction of the adrenal glands, thyroid gland and chronic infections.
Age and gender contribute to the manifestations of pathology.In people under 40, high blood pressure symptoms are more common in men than women.After 60 years, every second patient is diagnosed with high blood pressure.The incidence of the disease in women increases after menopause and women predominate in the older age group of patients.Changes in sex ratios are associated with increased premature mortality in men who develop the disease at an earlier age.
In addition, provoking factors are:
- violations of quality and nutrition;
- Bad habits and chronic intoxication;
- caffeine abuse;
- Physical inactivity and heavy physical work;
- Socioeconomic status.
Main symptoms of the disease
Typical signs of high blood pressure are the same in women and men and occur in the early stages.A persistent increase in blood pressure is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Dizziness;
- Headache;
- visual impairment;
- numbness of fingers;
- sleep disorders;
- performance degradation;
- Irritability;
- nosebleeds;
- tinnitus;
- Peripheral edema (mainly in women);
- Sweat;
- Pain in the heart.
The symptoms of hypertension appear in different combinations, not all at once, but as the disease progresses.At the end of the day, headache attacks may occur, coinciding with the physiological peak of blood pressure.It's not uncommon to have a headache right after you wake up.This symptom is often confused with ordinary lack of sleep, overwork or the manifestation of other diseases not related to the cardiovascular system.
Headaches caused by an attack of high blood pressure are accompanied by a feeling of pressure or heaviness in the back of the head, which sometimes worsens with turning, tilting the head, sudden movements, sneezing and coughing, and may be accompanied by general or partial swelling of the face.The intensity of the pain is in no way related to the level of blood pressure, but sometimes indicates a sudden increase.In some patients, the headache is accompanied by nosebleeds, after which the condition usually improves.Nosebleeds can be painless, especially in the first stage of hypertension.
Unbearable headaches trigger irritability.The patient reacts painfully to bright light, loud and sharp sounds.
Visual impairment is described as haze in front of the eyes, “spots” and double vision.
Heart pain and a vague feeling of fear as symptoms of high blood pressure are more typical of later stages of the disease.The pain is localized in the upper part of the heart or to the left of the breastbone and is not always associated with emotional or physical stress.Unlike angina pectoris attacks, the pain may not subside for several hours and may not be relieved even by taking vasodilators from the organic nitrate class.
Shortness of breath can occur in response to physical activity, during the course of the disease and at rest.
Peripheral edema with hypertension may indicate the development of heart failure.Swelling may occur after taking certain medications, impaired kidney function, or excess sodium in the body.
There are three stages of hypertension, which differ in their symptoms and the severity of the patient's disease.
When blood pressure rises to 140-149/90-99 mmHg.Art.High blood pressure is characterized as mild.The attacks are accompanied by dizziness and nosebleeds are possible.Characterized by a decrease in performance, lethargy, possible attacks of nausea and tachycardia.
Moderate hypertension is diagnosed when values are between 150 and 179/100 and 109 mmHg.Art.During an attack, patients experience sweating, chills, swelling, numbness in the fingers, and dull pain in the heart.Spasms of the retinal vessels are manifested by the flickering of flies or flashes in front of the eyes and possibly by a progressive deterioration in vision up to blindness due to hemorrhage in the retina.
Severe high blood pressure leads to dysfunction of the heart and other organs.
Hypertensive crisis
With a sharp increase in blood pressure, a hypertensive crisis is possible.The consequences of a crisis can affect the heart, brain and kidneys.The most characteristic feature of a crisis is an increase in diastolic (upper) pressure.
The crisis begins suddenly and the following is possible:
- Shortness of breath;
- nausea, sometimes vomiting;
- blurred vision and other vision problems;
- Severe redness of the face;
- Severe headache;
- Constricting pain in the region of the heart.
The symptoms experienced during a crisis can vary;Depending on the severity of the symptom complex, the following crisis types are distinguished:
- Neurovegetative.Neurological symptoms predominate.The patient is overstimulated, restless or frightened.Possible hand tremors, sweating and fever.As a rule, only systolic pressure increases;An attack of hypertension is accompanied by tachycardia.
- Hydropic.Both pressure indicators increase, patients quickly develop swelling of the face and hands, lethargy and drowsiness.The man is disoriented.The edematous crisis form develops primarily in women after consuming salty foods or large amounts of liquid.
- In patients with a malignant course of hypertension, a rare convulsive form of crisis is possible.During a seizure crisis, the likelihood of a hemorrhagic stroke is particularly high.
Features of the course of hypertension in women
Women of childbearing age are less likely to develop high blood pressure than men.At the same time, hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause are often accompanied by symptomatic hypertension.If the main symptoms of hypertension appear against the background of changes during menopause, a final diagnosis is possible after the complete extinction of reproductive function.Female risk factors in particular include taking oral contraceptives.
Poisoning by alcohol and nicotine has a significantly greater effect on women than on the stronger sex.Even one cigarette can trigger a hypertensive crisis if hypertension is diagnosed.
Another risk factor is the increased emotionality of women.Due to this psychological feature, representatives of the fair sex suffer from hypertensive crises more often.
Symptoms of high blood pressure tend to be more severe in women;Women pay more attention to their health and, on average, consult a doctor much earlier than men.
Features of the development and progression of high blood pressure in men
Since the male body does not undergo such frequent and profound hormonal changes, the main risk factors are somewhat different than in women.
This is primarily severe and chronic stress, which leads to an increase in adrenaline levels and thus blood pressure.Chronic poisonings of various origins also play an equally important role, ranging from air pollution in industrial regions to dangerous working conditions to alcohol or tobacco addiction.
Diabetes mellitus, lack of exercise and obesity can also cause the development of arterial hypertension.
A hereditary predisposition to hypertension increases the risk of its development in both sexes.
In men, the signs of high blood pressure are less pronounced and early symptoms are not always taken seriously.The first visit to the doctor often takes place when the disease is at a fairly advanced stage.
High blood pressure in children
Since one of the key factors in developing high blood pressure is family history, parents with high blood pressure should know how to recognize high blood pressure in children.
High blood pressure can affect children of all ages, but adolescents are particularly susceptible.The triggering factors, development mechanisms and symptoms of hypertension are similar to those in adults.The basis for examining a child to confirm/exclude a diagnosis of hypertension is a persistent increase in blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg.Art.