A persistent increase in blood pressure (BP), referred to in everyday life as hypertension , is called arterial hypertension. It can act as a symptom of kidney disease, endocrine system, stress. This hypertension accounts for only 5-10% of cases, while 90 to 95% of people with elevated blood pressure suffer from hypertension (essential hypertension). Next, we will consider what to do with high blood pressure.
Normal values of blood pressure
To determine the hypertension used indicators of the upper and lower blood pressure.
Systolic (upper limit) - the pressure in the arteries, which arises at the time of contraction of the heart and the expulsion of blood. The normal value is 110 - 139 mm Hg. Art.
Diastolic (lower limit) - pressure in the arteries, which arises at the time of relaxation of the heart muscle. The norm is 80 - 89 mm Hg. Art.
Pulse pressure is the difference, between the upper and lower limit (for example, at a pressure of 122/82 this is 40 mm Hg).
The standard of pulse pressure is 50-40 mm Hg. Art.Signs of high blood pressure
Hypertension is fixed if blood pressure values are above 140/90 mm Hg. Art. These figures are stably high in people with hypertensive disease, however, sometimes the patient does not feel any discomfort and learns about the increase in pressure, only putting on the cuffs of the tonometer.
In most cases, with increased pressure, dizziness, headache, fatigue. Less often, nosebleeds and blood flow to the face occur. If the overestimated BP values are stable, but the patient does not receive proper treatment, this is extremely detrimental to the internal organs - the brain, kidneys, eyes, heart. In this case, in addition to these symptoms, there is nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, anxiety.
Causes of increased lower blood pressure
In 20% of cases of hypertensive disease, patients have a raised lower limit of BP at normal systolic pressure.
The cause of essential hypertension can be:
- hereditary predisposition;
- excess weight;
- insufficient physical activity;
- excessive salt intake;
- susceptibility to stress;
- smoking, drinking alcohol.
Sometimes elevated lower blood pressure is also due to other causes:
- kidney diseases ( pyelonephritis , glomerulonephritis, polycystosis, amyloidosis, atherosclerosis of kidney vessels);
- endocrine diseases (pheochromocytoma).
An overestimated diastolic blood pressure index is an alarm signal, since this condition contributes to the deposition of cholesterol and fibrin on the walls of blood vessels, threatening health.
Treatment of increased lower pressure should begin with the identification of the true cause of the pathology.
Causes of high upper blood pressure
Overestimated systolic blood pressure with a lower index less than 90 mm Hg. Art. is typical for the elderly. The cause of the pathology: thickening of the walls of the vessels, which threatens to vascular disorders, if so called. systolic hypertension can not be treated. This condition also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Treatment of high blood pressure
If the indices of blood pressure are not related to hypertension, but are symptoms of another disease (as mentioned above, this is 5-10% of cases), then the treatment should be aimed at eliminating the underlying disease.
In the early stages of essential hypertension, non-drug treatment helps, which involves:
- a decrease in the daily salt rate;
- stress prevention;
- refusal from smoking, alcohol;
- light physical activity (walking, swimming);
- weight loss (with obesity);
- a diet with a restriction of animal fat intake.
In the absence of effect resort to medical treatment of high blood pressure. Traditionally used:
- diuretics;
- ACE inhibitors;
- angiotensin receptor blockers;
- calcium antagonists;
- beta-blockers.