High blood pressure in hypertension is an indicator of persistent chronic hypertension that needs to be treated. Even high blood pressure poses a risk of complications.
The blood pressure level indicates how hard the blood presses against the 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 consistently 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. Often the consequences of hypertension are heart attacks and strokes.
High pressure
Hypertension 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 readings remain at the level of 140/90 to 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 phase of hypertension, blood pressure rises periodically. Constant stress can cause frequent and prolonged spikes. With a calm neuropsychic state, 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 only a matter of time!
The success of treating arterial hypertension directly depends on compliance with the measures and treatment regimen. Strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations will accelerate the decrease in tonometer readings to normal levels. The effect can last a long time.
You should check your blood pressure if you have the following symptoms:
- headaches in the back of the head (usually throbbing);
- dizziness;
- sleep disorders;
- visual effect of "flies";
- Heartache.
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 internal organs.
Catastrophic changes in blood vessels can cause kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, which is a complete surprise for 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 deal with hypertension, the patient will be prescribed medication. The doctor will tell you which medicine 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 to levels of 160/100 to 180/110 mmHg. To normalize its indicators at this stage of the disease, it is necessary to use medications. 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 a 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 region;
- headache;
- disturbance of gait and coordination of movements;
- severe visual impairment;
- muscle weakness;
- paralysis (as a result of impaired cerebral circulation);
- coughing up blood;
- inability to self-service;
- speech disorder;
- clouding of consciousness.
To treat severe hypertension, potent medications are prescribed or doses of usual medications are increased. Patients with chronic pathology 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 must follow a few simple rules:
- maintain normal body weight;
- eat less salt;
- maintain a moderate physical activity regime;
- stop smoking and reduce alcohol consumption;
- consume foods that contain potassium (the average daily requirement is 3, 500 mg of potassium for an adult);
- include fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products in your daily diet.
Proper nutrition
In the case of high blood pressure, it is necessary to follow the basic principles of nutrition:
- The daily diet should be balanced in the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Daily intake for an adult: proteins - 100 g, fats - 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 bed.
- Give preference to cooked or steamed dishes.
- Daily fluid intake should not exceed 1. 5 liters (including liquid dishes and tea).
If there are no chronic anomalies or vascular diseases, these simple measures should be sufficient to normalize blood pressure.
For stage 1 hypertension, it is necessary to limit the consumption of certain foods. For 2nd and 3rd grades - delete completely.
Hypertensive patients are strictly not recommended to include in their diet:
- rich fish and meat broths;
- fatty pork and lamb meat;
- strong coffee and tea;
- beef fat, lard;
- hot spices;
- bakery products, cakes, sweets;
- 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 that contain antioxidants and are capable of breaking down fats, thinning the blood and preventing the formation of blood clots.
| Nutrient content in products | Product Sample List |
|---|---|
| Folic acid | Tomato, spinach, citrus fruits, peas, beans |
| Lactic acid | Sauerkraut, low-fat fermented dairy products |
| Vitamin C | Rosehip, garlic, currant, lemon |
| Coarse fiber | Potatoes, cereals, vegetables, herbs, berries and fruits |
| Phosphorus, magnesium, potassium | Nuts, seafood, seeds |
The list of products can be expanded by following the basic principles of creating a menu for hypertensive patients.
Blood pressure changes throughout the day. Particularly pronounced fluctuations are observed in hypertensive patients. In the morning it is low, then increases after meals and decreases again. At night, blood pressure is significantly higher than the morning level. And at night, during sleep, in patients with high blood pressure, it can drop dramatically. These outbreaks are more severe than in healthy people.
Normalizing blood pressure in hypertension can save a person's life and protect him from heart attack or stroke.