Hypertension is a common and dangerous cardiovascular disease. In simple terms, it is a disease due to high blood pressure. If treatment is not started in time, it will lead to serious consequences, such as stroke, heart attack, loss of working capacity, disability, and finally death is not excluded. This is why it is important to know what symptoms accompany the disease, to be able to recognize them in time and stop the disease in the early stages.
The invisible enemy, or what is hypertension?
Hypertension is an increase in blood pressure. The disease has another synonymous name: arterial hypertension. Here you should understand that only a qualified specialist makes a diagnosis and, accordingly, prescribes the course of treatment.
The onset of the disease can be detected by at least three indicators of monitoring blood pressure measurement. If you notice that your blood pressure "jumps" throughout the day, this is no reason to panic. Changes in the body can occur as a result of a change in occupation, for example, vigorous activity and sleep or sports and office work. In this case, the indicators of normal well-being will be the numbers on the display of the device for measuring pressure from 100 to 60 to 140 to 90.
If your blood pressure consistently or quite often stays at 140, this is a sign that you need to see a doctor.
Why does hypertension occur?
Pressure increases as a reaction to processes occurring inside and outside the body. These are stress, an uncomfortable environment, an increased level of danger. In these cases, a protective reaction is triggered in the body. The blood begins to release adrenaline and, as a result, the heart rate increases. This leads to vasoconstriction and muscle contraction. In combination, the body's reaction influences the increase in blood pressure. Since a person is not immune to overexertion, he often experiences such stress on the functioning of his organs. This leads to a direct harmful threat to health.
Regular lack of sleep, anxiety, mental and nervous diseases can lead to hypertension. Additionally, doctors list the causes of the disease as:
- problems with excess weight;
- problems with the thyroid gland;
- lack of organic substances in the body, including magnesium;
- inheritance.
Who is first in line?
Hypertension especially affects those who have relatives affected by this disease in the family.
Additionally, symptoms can be observed in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and in overweight people.
If you suffer from osteochondrosis or atherosclerosis, hypertension may be a consequence. There is a physiological explanation for this. During these diseases the vessels are compressed and the pressure increases accordingly.
An important factor in the development of hypertension is the influence of hormones. That's why it often occurs in women during menopause.
Signs of hypertension occur in people who suffer from constant stress at work and in life. At risk are heavy smokers and people with diabetes.
Symptoms appear more often in people over the age of 50. Also, according to statistics, men are more susceptible to this disease.
However, it is important to understand that, in general, hypertension spares no one and that the boundaries are arbitrary. The younger generation often suffers from high blood pressure.
Why is hypertension dangerous?
The consequences of hypertension are dangerous for the entire organism. Leads to:
- vision loss;
- nephropathy;
- metabolic syndrome;
- heart attack;
- hit;
- erectile dysfunction.
This is a reason, first of all, to know the symptoms of hypertension and be able to recognize the disease in time.
Insidious symptoms of hypertension
Unfortunately, the disease often begins to manifest itself in a hidden way. Symptoms are usually not evident in the early stages. To be more precise, they exist, but very often people do not pay attention to them, attributing the ailments to tiredness and routine. Signs of hypertension include frequent headaches. They are not tied to changes in the weather or time of day. They appear unexpectedly at night or immediately after waking up and occur in the middle of the day. They feel like a "circle" pressing on the temples. Patients often describe the pain as feeling "as if bricks had been placed on the back of the head. "It intensifies when bending or making sudden movements.
Additionally, symptoms will include:
- nausea;
- blurred vision: fog and haze before the eyes;
- cloudiness of consciousness;
- lethargy and apathy;
- noise in the ears.
If you observe any of these symptoms, you should start measuring your blood pressure. Its constantly high scale is a reason to sound the alarm and contact specialists.
These are just the first signs of the first stage of hypertension.
It is also characterized by:
- increased sweating;
- redness and swelling of the face;
- swelling in the morning;
- swelling of the hands;
- impairment or partial loss of memory.
Stages of hypertension: when to raise the alarm?
The disease has several boundaries. The first stage is a pressure fluctuation within a range up to 160 - the upper limit and 100 - the lower limit. If the disease is recognized in time and competent treatment is prescribed, you can not only stop the hypertensive crisis, but also get rid of this disease forever.
The second phase is characterized by an upper pressure limit of around 180 and a lower limit of 110. Its symptoms include pain in the head and heart and dizziness. The organs of vision are also affected. In this case, complex treatment, changes in lifestyle and daily routine are necessary.
The third stage of hypertension is indicated by irreversible processes occurring in the body. Due to the heavy load on the ships, the pressure rises from 180 to 110. The worst thing in this case is the consequences. Without immediate treatment for hypertension, the lifetime risk is high.
At all stages of development, the patient can be overwhelmed by a hypertensive crisis. It leads to an exacerbation of all symptoms of the disease. In this case, the lower pressure becomes high. Signs include nausea and vomiting.
Treatment of hypertension: in hospital or at home?
The course of treatment of the disease is determined only by the doctor. What you need to remember first:
- The pressure should always be reduced gradually. A sharp drop can put you at risk of a heart attack;
- How to normalize the condition is explained only by a qualified specialist in each case individually. There is no point in doing the treatment yourself;
- If you feel improvement, you should not stop taking your medications. It is necessary to complete the course prescribed by the doctor;
- You should not change the treatment yourself: increase or decrease the dose of the drug;
- You should not wait for a fleeting cure. Hypertension is a disease that does not develop overnight and does not disappear overnight.