Hypertension is a common and dangerous cardiovascular disease. Simply put, it is high blood pressure. If treatment is not started promptly, it will lead to serious consequences such as stroke, heart attack, loss of ability to work, disability and ultimately death. That is why it is important to know the symptoms that accompany the disease so that it can be recognized promptly and prevented in its early stages.
What is the invisible enemy, or hypertension?
Hypertension is an increase in blood pressure. This disease also has another synonym - arterial hypertension. Here you should understand that only a qualified specialist will make a diagnosis and, as a result, prescribe the course of treatment.
The onset of the disease can be detected by at least three blood pressure monitoring indicators. If you notice your blood pressure "spiking" throughout the day, this is no reason to panic. Changes in the body can occur due to changes in occupation, for example vigorous activity and sleep or sports and office work. In this case, normal health indicators will be numbers on the screen of the pressure measuring device from 100 to 60 to 140 to 90.
If your blood pressure is consistently above 140 or quite often, this is a sign you should see a doctor.
Why does high blood pressure occur?
Pressure increases as a response to processes occurring inside and outside the body. These are tensions, an uncomfortable environment, an increasing level of danger. In these cases, a protective reaction will be triggered in the body. The blood begins to release adrenaline and as a result the heart rate increases. Leads to vasoconstriction and muscle contraction. Combined, the body's response influences the increase in blood pressure. Since a person cannot avoid overexertion, he often experiences such stress on the functioning of his organs. This leads to a direct threat of harm to health.
Regular lack of sleep, anxiety, mental and neurological diseases can lead to high blood pressure. In addition, doctors also list causes of the disease such as:
- problems with excess weight;
- problems with the thyroid gland;
- lack of organic substances in the body, including magnesium;
- heredity.
Who's first in line?
Hypertension mainly affects people who have a family member with the condition.
In addition, symptoms can be observed in people with a sedentary lifestyle and in people who are overweight.
If you have osteochondrosis or atherosclerosis, the result can be increased blood pressure. There is a physiological explanation for this. Blood vessels are compressed in these diseases and pressure increases as well.
An important factor in the development of high blood pressure is the influence of hormones. That's why it often occurs in women during menopause.
Signs of high blood pressure occur in people who often experience stress in work and life. At risk are heavy smokers and people with diabetes.
Symptoms usually appear in people over 50 years old. Moreover, according to statistics, men are more susceptible to this disease.
However, it is important to understand that, in general, hypertension is independent and the boundaries are arbitrary. The younger generation often suffers from high blood pressure.
Why is high blood pressure dangerous?
The consequences of high blood pressure are dangerous for the entire body. It leads to:
- Loss of vision;
- kidney disease;
- metabolic syndrome;
- heart attack;
- stroke;
- erectile dysfunction.
This is why you must first learn about the symptoms of hypertension and be able to recognize the disease promptly.
Silent symptoms of high blood pressure
Unfortunately, the disease often begins hidden. Symptoms are often not noticeable in the early stages. To be more precise, they exist, but people often do not pay attention to them, attributing illnesses to fatigue and habits. Signs of high blood pressure include frequent headaches. They are not related to changes in weather or time of day. They appear suddenly at night or immediately after waking up and occur in the middle of the day. They look like a "hoop" pressing on your temples. Patients often describe the pain as feeling "like bricks on the back of the neck". It intensifies when bending over or making sudden movements.
Additionally, symptoms will include:
- nausea;
- blurred vision: there is fog and mist before the eyes;
- cloudy consciousness;
- lethargy and lethargy;
- noise in the ears.
If you observe any of these symptoms, you should start measuring your blood pressure. Its persistently high scale is a reason to sound the alarm and contact experts.
These are just the initial signs of the early stages of hypertension.
It is also characterized by:
- increased sweating;
- blushing and puffiness;
- swelling in the morning;
- hand swelling;
- memory loss or partial loss.
Stages of hypertension: when to be alarmed?
This disease has many boundaries. The first stage is pressure fluctuations in the range up to 160 - upper limit and 100 - lower limit. If the disease is recognized in time and appropriate treatment is prescribed, then you can not only prevent an attack of hypertension, but also get rid of this disease forever.
The second stage is characterized by an upper pressure limit of about 180 and a lower limit of 110. Its symptoms include headaches, heart pain and dizziness. The visual organs are also affected. In this case, complex treatment, changes in lifestyle and daily habits are required.
The third stage of hypertension is indicated by irreversible processes taking place in the body. Because the load on the tank is too great, the pressure increases to 180 to 110. The worst thing in this case is the consequences. If high blood pressure is not treated immediately, there is a high risk of death.
At all stages of development, patients can experience attacks of hypertension. It leads to exacerbation of all symptoms of the disease. In this case, the lower pressure becomes high. Signs include nausea and vomiting.
Treating high blood pressure: in the hospital or at home?
The course of treatment of the disease is determined only by the doctor. What you need to remember first:
- Pressure should always be gradually reduced. A sharp decline can put you at risk of a heart attack;
- How to normalize the condition is explained only by a qualified specialist in each individual case. There is no point in treating it yourself;
- If you feel improvement, you should not stop taking the medicine. It is necessary to complete the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor;
- You should not adjust your treatment yourself: increase or decrease the dose;
- You should not wait for a fleeting cure. Hypertension is a disease that does not develop in a day and does not go away overnight.