Every person with this diagnosis needs to know how blood pressure changes when they have hypertension. More and more people are suffering from this disease. The disease is getting younger and younger, so each person needs to understand the life principles of people with hypertension: both the patient and their family members. What life-threatening pressures, how to behave during an attack, do genetics and lifestyle affect the development of the disease? Answering these questions will help prevent many unnecessary problems.
Blood pressure index for hypertension
The main cause of high blood pressure is the narrowing of blood vessels due to their constriction. This process occurs for several reasons: genetics, bad habits, stress, sedentary lifestyle. The main method for diagnosing hypertension is measuring blood pressure. Since childhood, everyone is familiar with the numbers "120 to 80". They have their own names and meanings. The first number is an index of the heart muscle's activity, called systolic blood pressure (SBP). The second number measures blood pressure between heartbeats, called diastolic blood pressure.
Symptoms of high blood pressure are palpitations, nausea, throbbing pain in the back of the head, dizziness, excessive sweating, heart pain, and insomnia.
Doctors have drawn a direct relationship between blood pressure readings and the severity of the patient's illness:
- Below 120/80 is the optimal number;
- 120–129/80–84 - normal pressure. Diagnosis made: prehypertension;
- 130–139/85–89—high normal blood pressure. For hypertension;
- greater than or equal to 140/less than 90 – ISAH diagnosed;
- 140–159/90–99—grade 1 hypertension;
- 160–179/100–109 —Level 2;
- Grade 3 - more than 180/110.
The early stages of the disease often have no symptoms. The first signs of the disease appear easily and the patient simply does not notice them, gradually getting used to the symptoms. Hypertension continues to progress, altering blood vessels and increasing the chance of having a heart attack, stroke, or kidney problems. If hypertension is a common disease in the family, it is necessary to periodically monitor blood pressure parameters to prevent the disease from an early age.
How is the diagnosis made?
| Research stages | What is being tested? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure Gauge | Measure readings every 15–30 minutes for several days. | - |
| prehistoric | Detailed analysis of complaints and symptoms. | - |
| Physical examination | Measure temperature and blood pressure, palpate the thyroid gland, examine the skin. The condition of the arteries near the surface is evaluated. | Symptoms of long-term disease: the heart increases in size, characteristic sounds appear when heard with a stethoscope, blurred vision, spots, swelling of the legs. |
| Instrumental method | Blood and urine for general analysis | - |
| Blood chemistry | Control sugar, uric acid, K, Na, cholesterol. | |
| ECG | Angina is detected. | |
| Check the back of the eye | Symptoms: arterial stenosis, microscopic hemorrhage, varicose veins. | |
| Echocardiography | By appointment. | |
| Chest X-ray | The boundaries of the myocardium are revealed |
What pressure is already dangerous?
The dangerous blood pressure index for humans is above 140/90. Depending on the numbers on the eye pressure and the degree of change, the patient's condition is stabilized in many different ways. Stage 1, when functional changes occur, is characterized by insomnia, fatigue, and headaches. The attacks were short-lived and unstable. After taking sedatives and resting, blood pressure drops. In the second stage, organic changes appear. To prevent the attack, antihypertensive drugs are prescribed. Crisis can happen. Kidney function is impaired and vision is reduced. The attacks were persistent and prolonged. In the third stage, indicators are never normal. Organic changes in internal organs and blood vessels can cause strokes, blindness, heart attacks and heart failure.
What to do if you have high blood pressure?
How to stabilize blood pressure during an attack:
- Call an ambulance.
- Place a tablet under the tongue to speed up absorption of the drug.
- Breathe evenly and try not to worry.
- To expand peripheral vessels, you can apply mustard pads on your legs.
As a result, the load on the main vessels decreases and a feeling of relief appears. The attack will pass gradually, within 2–4 hours, since a sharp increase in "hypertension - low blood pressure" will cause negative consequences, especially if the patient is elderly. Increased blood pressure can cause panic attacks. Hypertensive patients often have high blood pressure. Tablets help relieve pain - you need to stop worrying and follow your doctor's instructions. It is advisable to keep a sheet of paper with the order of actions during the attack in a visible place to do everything correctly. This helps you deal with panic attacks and low blood pressure on your own.
To prevent a crisis, you need to follow your doctor's recommendations.
Prevent
| General recommendations |
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