High blood pressure in hypertension is an indicator of persistent chronic hypertension that needs to be treated. High blood pressure also carries the risk of complications.
The blood pressure level indicates how hard the blood presses on their walls as it moves through the vessels. Blood pressure monitor readings may fluctuate up or down throughout the day. This is considered the norm. But if the blood pressure level is constantly high, we are talking about a disease called hypertension.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, causes serious complications.
The so-called target organs are negatively affected: heart, kidneys, brain, blood vessels, retina. Very often the consequences of hypertension are heart attacks and strokes.
Hypertension
High blood pressure in hypertension is dangerous and depends on the margin of error. Normal systolic blood pressure ranges from 120 to 129 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure ranges from 80 to 84 mmHg.
The diagnosis of "1st degree hypertension" is made if blood pressure values remain at a level between 140/90 and 160/100 mmHg. This is a mild degree of the disease, in which constantly high blood pressure is not accompanied by damage to internal organs.
In the initial stage of hypertension, blood pressure rises periodically. Constant stress can cause frequent and prolonged increases. With a calm neuropsychic state, the periods of its increase are short-term and infrequent.
Persistent high blood pressure in hypertension poses a great threat of developing a hypertensive crisis. It's just a matter of time!
The success of treatment of arterial hypertension directly depends on compliance with the measures and therapeutic regimen. Strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations will accelerate the decrease in tonometer readings to normal levels. The effect can last a very long time.
You should check your blood pressure if you have the following symptoms:
- headache in the back of the head (often throbbing);
- dizziness;
- sleep disorders;
- visual effect of "flies";
- heart pain.
The danger of hypertension lies in the fact that its initial stage is often asymptomatic.
A person may not even realize they have high blood pressure. The body quickly adapts to new indicators, and the patient feels quite normal. Meanwhile, the pathological process spreads and affects the internal organs.
Catastrophic changes in blood vessels can cause kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, which come as a complete surprise to the patient.
Lifestyle changes can have a positive effect on blood pressure levels.
To do this, the patient needs:
- ensure restful sleep;
- avoid stressful situations;
- practice exercises to relax the body;
- follow a diet;
- increase physical activity.
If these measures do not help to cope with hypertension, the patient is prescribed medications. The doctor will tell you which drug is best to normalize blood pressure after the examination.
High pressure
High blood pressure due to hypertension must be treated immediately! The 2nd degree of hypertension (moderate) is characterized by its increase from 160/100 to 180/110 mmHg. To bring its indicators back to normal at this stage of the disease, the use of medications is necessary. When examining patients diagnosed with stage 2 hypertension, an enlargement of the left ventricle of the heart is often detected.
Severe hypertension is diagnosed in cases with persistent increase in blood pressure above 180/110 mmHg. Such high rates are usually accompanied by serious complications such as strokes, heart attacks and kidney dysfunction.
High blood pressure due to hypertension is the most common cause of death and disability.
Symptoms of very high blood pressure and severe hypertension include:
- Cardiac arrhythmia;
- nosebleeds;
- pain in the heart area;
- heachache;
- gait disturbance and coordination of movements;
- severe visual impairment;
- muscle weakness;
- paralysis (due to impaired cerebral circulation);
- coughing up blood;
- inability to self-service;
- language disorder;
- clouding of consciousness.
To treat severe hypertension, strong medications are prescribed or the doses of usual medications are increased. Patients with chronic conditions take pills for the rest of their lives.
Prevention of hypertension
If you have not yet been diagnosed with hypertension, lowering your blood pressure to normal levels should be a daily goal.
To maintain normal levels you need to follow some simple rules:
- maintain normal body weight;
- eat less salt;
- maintain a moderate physical activity regime;
- stop smoking and reduce the consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- consume foods containing potassium (the average daily requirement is 3500 mg of potassium for an adult);
- include fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products in your daily diet.
Appropriate nutrition
In case of arterial hypertension it is necessary to follow the basic principles of nutrition:
- The daily diet should be balanced in protein, fat and carbohydrate content. Daily intake for an adult: protein - 100 g, fat - 100 g, carbohydrates - 400 g.
- It is necessary to reduce the consumption of light carbohydrates (quickly converted into glucose).
- Reduce the amount of salt you consume.
- Enrich your daily menu with foods rich in vitamins, potassium, magnesium and other beneficial microelements.
- Replace animal fats with vegetable oils.
- Include seafood rich in iodine and fatty acids in your diet.
- Create the correct diet: the number of meals per day is 5, the last meal is 2 hours before bedtime.
- Give preference to boiled or steamed dishes.
- Daily fluid intake should not exceed 1. 5 liters (including liquid dishes and tea).
If there are no chronic abnormalities or vascular diseases, such simple measures should be enough to normalize blood pressure.
For stage 1 hypertension it is necessary to limit the consumption of certain foods. For grades 2 and 3: exclude completely.
Hypertensive patients are strictly not recommended to include in their diet:
- rich fish and meat broths;
- fatty pork and lamb;
- strong coffee and tea;
- beef fat, lard;
- hot spices;
- baked goods, cakes, pastries;
- salted and pickled vegetables, radishes;
- mayonnaise, fatty sauces;
- chocolate, cocoa;
- sweet soda;
- alcohol and tobacco.
Products that reduce blood pressure
For hypertensive patients, the greatest benefit will come from products containing antioxidants and capable of breaking down fats, thinning the blood and preventing the formation of blood clots.
| Nutrient content in products | Example of product list |
|---|---|
| Folic acid | Tomatoes, spinach, citrus fruits, peas, beans |
| Lactic acid | Sauerkraut, low-fat fermented milk products |
| C vitamin | Rose hips, garlic, currants, lemon |
| Coarse fiber | Potatoes, cereals, vegetables, herbs, berries and fruits |
| Phosphorus, magnesium, potassium | Nuts, seafood, seeds |
The list of products can be expanded by adhering to the basic principles of creating a menu for hypertensive patients.
Blood pressure changes throughout the day. Particularly acute fluctuations are observed in hypertensive patients. In the morning it is low, then increases after meals and decreases again. In the evening, blood pressure is significantly higher than the morning level. And at night, during sleep, in patients with arterial hypertension, it can decrease dramatically. These spikes are more severe than in healthy people.
Normalizing blood pressure in hypertension can save a person's life and protect them from heart attack or stroke.