Every fifth person suffers from high blood pressure, and after 50 years, every second. It is not possible to completely get rid of this condition, but it is necessary to control one’s blood pressure, otherwise the risk of fatal stroke and ischemic heart disease is high. How to live with overpressure? How to choose medicines?
Symptoms of hypertension. How to diagnose?
The disease has various symptoms, among them are:
- uneven gait (the patient sways due to pressure fluctuations),
- headaches (strong or weak, which usually occur in the morning in the nape or temple area),
- noise in the ears,
- dizziness,
- nausea,
- nosebleeds,
- insomnia,
- redness of the face,
- the presence of “bumps” and fog in front of the eyes,
- pains in shoulder blades, chest, fingers.
However, unfortunately, sometimes hypertension goes without symptoms. For this reason, it is necessary to regularly monitor blood pressure by measuring it with a tonometer.
Which tonometer to prefer: automatic or manual?
Any that are convenient to use.
If hypertension is asymptomatic…
Some people do not feel pressure fluctuations at all. Over time, their body adapts and they feel better under high pressure conditions.
This is very dangerous. If hypertension is not treated, a person will very quickly develop a stroke or coronary heart disease. In addition, high blood pressure increases the risk of premature death. The following sad facts testify to that. In 68 out of 100 cases of myocardial infarction, and 75 out of 100 cases of stroke, patients report an increase in blood pressure that was not adequately controlled by them.
If hypertension can be combated in the initial period by diet, proper lifestyle, regular measurement of blood pressure and preventing its increase, then in the later periods it is impossible to regulate it without medication.
Norms of arterial pressure
The biggest disputes between doctors and patients are related to norms. The norms accepted by our doctors are close to the recent changes in the USA.
- up to 120/80: norm,
- 120/80 – 130/80: high blood pressure,
- 130/80 – 139/89: hypertension of the first degree, which requires drug treatment.
However, as hypertensive patients note, these numbers can fluctuate significantly after nervous tension, physical exertion, alcohol and sexual intercourse. That is why it is very important for the attending physician to know how long it takes for the blood pressure to rise to normal. It is good if it takes a maximum of 30 minutes to stabilize the pressure. Moreover, the less stress and physical activity, the faster the pressure should return to the output numbers.
How many times a day should the blood pressure be measured so that the doctor can diagnose “Hypertensive disease”? When blood pressure increases slightly, measurements with a tonometer should be carried out for several months.
How to properly treat hypertension?
Recently, doctors prefer to prescribe a combination of drugs instead of a single drug. Sometimes several drugs are included in one pill. Thus, it is convenient for the patient and effective in terms of treatment, because the combination of several drugs with different mechanisms of action allows them to be prescribed in low or medium doses, rather than high ones. The result is a significant decrease in blood pressure, good tolerability of the drug, and a significant decrease in side effects.
Currently, there are modern long-acting preparations that lower blood pressure for 24 hours under the condition of taking it once a day. Among the well-known drugs for the treatment of hypertension are:
- Diuretics or diuretics. often they start the treatment with these, which lower the pressure in a mild way (diabetes, gout are considered contraindications);
- beta adrenergic blockers. ease the work of the heart, reducing the energy consumption of our “engine”, have other useful properties, but also have contraindications,
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and direct intra-angiotensin antagonists are very effective, but the doctor must be informed about the patient’s kidney condition.
- Calcium antagonists. are effective preparations loved by patients,
- alpha adrenoceptor blockers are prescribed relatively little, it is suitable for diseases of peripheral arteries, prostate adenoma,
- hypotensive agents of central effect are prescribed less than necessary,
- directly – vasodilators.
In case of hypertension, do not self-medicate. Very often, people use drugs that were prescribed not to them, but to neighbors, friends, and relatives. Under no circumstances should you do that. The dosage of the drug can be determined only by the doctor after examination and examination. Sometimes, in order to choose the right treatment, the patient is admitted to the hospital for regular follow-up, to choose the right drug and the right dosage. The doctor prescribes the treatment not only based on the diagnosis, but also takes into account:
- age of the patient,
- the period of the disease (there are 3 periods of hypertension),
- the patient’s heart condition (presence or absence of angina, heart failure, heart rhythm disorder),
- presence of obesity, diabetes, bronchospasm and other diseases in the patient.
Hypotensive (pressure-lowering) drugs often have a powerful effect, and a sharp and strong reduction in blood pressure can have unpredictable consequences. In addition, the dosage can be increased or decreased during treatment, depending on the patient’s condition. It is necessary to remember that often the full effect of the drug is manifested only after 1-2 weeks of taking it.
Why sometimes the pills prescribed by the therapist do not improve the patient’s condition?
In this situation, one can suspect that hypertension is not caused by hereditary factors, harmful habits (abuse of fatty and salty food, overeating, sedentary life, smoking) or age and poor condition of blood vessels, but is related to other health problems.
Arterial pressure can increase during diseases of the kidneys and renal arteries, thyrotoxicosis (thyroid gland disease), diseases of the adrenal glands, heart defects, and brain injuries. In that case, the patient should perform all possible examinations.
If the underlying disease is not treated, the hypertension will not go away, and the drugs will be ineffective. It will be necessary to consult an appropriate specialist.