The numbers on the tonometer screen help to diagnose pathologies of the heart and blood vessels at an early stage. In itself, a pressure of 160 over 80 does not indicate any specific disease. A number of factors that must be determined by the doctor may contribute to this increase in blood pressure. Most often this is a sign of the initial stage of hypertension or arterial hypertension.
What does it mean
What does it mean when the tonometer shows the numbers 160 to 90? The regular appearance of such indicators indicates the transition of hypertension to the second stage. It is important to remember that for representatives of the older age group, blood pressure is 160/90 mmHg. Art. is an acceptable norm.
But only if the condition is not accompanied by the development of a clinical picture typical of hypertension. The reason is the general aging of the entire body and the vascular system in particular. The walls of the blood vessels become less elastic, which leads to an increase in blood pressure (blood pressure).
Important! Women's blood pressure levels are initially lower than men's. Therefore, blood pressure 160/90 is a sure sign of hypertension.
Meaning of indicators
Many people know what hypertension means for the human body. In the case of a blood pressure of 160 over 80, people do not know what to do or whether to take medications, because only the first number is elevated. In this situation, we are talking about a special type of hypertension, which is usually called isolated or systolic hypertension.
Hypertensive patients do not need to lower their blood pressure to 160/85. This is a normal indicator for them. After physical activity, blood pressure also increases in healthy people. That is why, if you see these numbers on the tonometer, do not rush to swallow the pills. Calm down and wait 20 minutes - your condition should normalize.
If a jump in blood pressure is observed in a calm state, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination of the heart and blood vessels. Be sure to also check the thyroid gland and kidneys.
Normal or pathological?
Blood pressure 160/90 mm Hg. Art. Is it the norm or a deviation? Most often, this level of blood pressure is considered by doctors as a pathology and indicates the development of the second degree of hypertension. The condition in this case is accompanied by characteristic symptoms and requires drug treatment.
Sometimes this blood pressure may be normal. This indicator can occur in men over 40 years of age or people with a large physique and tall stature. At the same time, there are no unpleasant manifestations characteristic of hypertension.
What is the danger of pressure 160/100
Systolic pressure reaching 160 is very dangerous for health. First of all, the blood vessels suffer. The elasticity of the walls decreases, as a result of which they can no longer fully contract and relax. With consistently high levels, the risk of developing the following deviations increases:
- renal dysfunction;
- decreased visual acuity;
- possible changes in lung tissue;
- high risk of heart attack;
- the likelihood of a stroke.
If hypertension is left untreated, there is a high risk of stroke
The listed conditions are already complications. Hypertension itself at such indicators is characterized by the occurrence of frequent crises. They occur differently in all patients and in some cases can cause hospitalization. In order to prevent an attack of hypertension, it is enough to pay close attention to your health and consult a doctor at the first symptoms of high blood pressure.
Possible reasons
There are a number of factors that provoke a significant increase in blood pressure levels.
Physiological
They are relatively rare. The person does not have any symptoms. Although short-term dizziness or increased heart rate may occur. The reasons may be:
- Puberty. The body of a teenager during the period of growing up - from approximately 12 to 19 years - undergoes powerful hormonal changes, which can provoke a significant increase in blood pressure. Hypertension in this case is secondary in nature and goes away after the root cause is eliminated. Isolated episodes of high blood pressure occur in most young people. Despite the natural causes of pressure surges - changes in hormonal levels - a teenager should be observed by a cardiologist.
- Pregnancy. In rare cases, blood pressure 160/90 is a variant of the physiological norm. But most often, an increase in pressure to such high levels indicates the development of late toxicosis.
- Stressful situation. The reason for the jump is the release of a large amount of hormones into the blood - adrenaline and cortisone. They cause vasoconstriction and stimulate the central nervous system.
- Increased physical activity. Typical for athletes and people whose work involves lifting heavy weights.
- Abuse of drinks containing caffeine. They provoke an increase in the tone of the walls of blood vessels, which causes a sharp jump in pressure. The effect can last two to three hours.
- Drinking large amounts of alcohol. The drink has two opposite effects. Initially, it dilates blood vessels, which causes a decrease in blood pressure. After 10–15 minutes, the vascular lumens, on the contrary, narrow. This causes an increase in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate.
- Smoking. Nicotine also has a very negative effect on the condition of blood vessels, causing not only a persistent increase in blood pressure, but also heart disease and atherosclerosis of the veins of the lower extremities.
- Oral contraception. Drugs in this group can cause persistent hormonal imbalances and, as a result, an increase in blood pressure. The condition is reversible as a woman can correct her condition on her own. Therefore, surges in blood pressure do not always result in the development of hypertension.
Pathological (heart)
The reasons in this case may be:
Diet for arterial hypertension
- Atherosclerosis of large vessels. Persistent increase in blood pressure to 160/90 mm Hg. Art. occurs against the background of complete/partial blockage of the lumen or its stenosis (narrowing). If left untreated, the condition leads to vascular obstruction.
- Heart defects (congenital/acquired). In most cases, this is valve insufficiency, dysfunction of the septum. Therapy is possible only surgically and consists of restoring normal heart function and lowering blood pressure levels.
- Diseases of the heart and pericardium of an inflammatory nature. They cause destruction of cardinal structures or accumulation of fluid and subsequent compression. The patient needs urgent hospitalization. Treatment is with antibiotics, corticosteroids, etc.
- Rheumatism, diseases of autoimmune origin.
- Heart attack or stroke. Pathologies are accompanied by impaired nutrition of myocardial or cerebral tissue (in case of stroke). Increased blood pressure is a symptomatic manifestation that lasts up to six months. Treatment is carried out with antihypertensive drugs.
Pathological (non-cardiac)
An increase in blood pressure to 160/90 can also be provoked by:
- Kidney diseases, in particular, renal failure (acute, chronic, in the stage of decompensation). Treatment should be carried out by a nephrologist.
- Liver failure. The reason for the increase in blood pressure is organic changes in organ tissue. Most often it is hepatitis or cirrhosis. More rarely, the provoking factor is oncopathology.
- Endocrine disorders – hyperthyroidism (overactivity of the thyroid gland), active production of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal cortex.
- Injuries, neurogenic conditions.
- Hormonal imbalances during gynecological diseases.
What to do with blood pressure 160/80?
If you measured your blood pressure and saw a high upper reading on the tonometer for the first time, do not rush to panic, there is a high probability that you simply performed the procedure incorrectly. Calm down and try to measure the pressure again, without holding your breath as you exhale and minimizing hand movements.
And also read on our website: Is pressure 100 over 70 normal? The meaning of indicators and pulse, why does the head hurt and what to do?
For people after physical exertion and emotional stress, a massage of the collar area and upper back will help stabilize their performance. These areas should be slowly kneaded with your fingertips.
At home, a hand bath will help reduce systolic pressure. The water temperature should be 37 degrees. Place both hands in a container of water and hold for 10 minutes. If there are no serious diseases in the body, then these manipulations help restore the patient’s well-being within 20 minutes.
If the indicator 160 to 80 is already familiar to you, first aid is to use Captopril and Valocordin.
Captopril is an antihypertensive drug; it reduces blood pressure by acting on brain receptors. Valocordin is a sedative medicine that reduces spasm in blood vessels, normalizes the number of heart contractions, and also reduces human excitability.
If you have headaches, you can take analgesics. If the condition does not return to normal within half an hour, you need to call an ambulance.
Drugs for further treatment
Your therapist will tell you how to treat high blood pressure after a detailed study of your health. The selection of medications is individual, so using medications prescribed by someone you know with a similar diagnosis for treatment is strictly prohibited. Those medications that helped him recover can significantly harm you and will only complicate the work of qualified doctors.
In the absence of serious abnormalities and pathologies in the body, for the treatment of surges in systolic pressure, doctors prescribe:
Enalapril;- Noliprel;
- Lisinopril;
- Lorista;
- Physiotens.
For severe hypertension and people of retirement age, adenoblockers are prescribed - Anaprilin, Lokren and Blockarden and calcium channel blockers - Flunarizine, Verapamin and Lacidipine. Among sedative drugs, Persen and Afobazol have a good effect.
Diet
A person with systolic hypertension needs to avoid flour products, sugar, fatty and spicy foods. It is important to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood, so limit canned food, fast food, empty carbohydrates, as well as smoked foods and spices.
80% of the patient’s diet should consist of boiled or stewed vegetables and non-acidic fruits.
You should pay attention to whole grain cereals. They contain many important microelements necessary for the full functioning of the cardiovascular system.
And also read on our website: The difference between upper and lower pressure: large, small, normal
Symptoms
Symptoms accompanying an increase in blood pressure to 160/90 mmHg. Art., will be the same for both men and women. Conventionally, they can be divided into two groups: basic and indicating the development of conditions requiring immediate medical attention.
Main manifestations:
- Headache. The main area of localization is the parietal and occipital zone. The pain is intense. Headaches in the second stage of hypertension are almost always constant. The intervals between attacks are very short – sometimes no more than a day. As the body gets used to the new blood pressure, the pain gradually disappears, leaving the patient with only a feeling of heaviness in the head. This significantly complicates the diagnosis of pathology, since the tonometer readings stabilize.
- Dizziness (poor orientation in space). A person experiences it during acute periods.
- Dyspnea. It is a consequence of a violation of the gas exchange process.
- Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).
- Fainting states. They are rare. As a rule, fainting can occur at the stage of the body “getting used to” a new level of blood pressure or with the development of a hypertensive crisis.
- Noise in the ears, flickering of black flies in the field of vision, split images, etc.
- Feeling nauseous. May end with bouts of vomiting.
When cardinal problems (disturbances in the functioning of the myocardium) occur, the patient develops rhythm disturbances, blue discoloration appears in the area of the nasolabial triangle, and the entire surface of the skin becomes significantly paler. When emergency conditions occur, the symptoms not only intensify, but also get worse. The clinical picture develops very quickly.
A person experiences: an unbearable headache, complete disorientation - the patient cannot navigate in space, discomfort in the chest area - the person experiences a pressing pain that disrupts the breathing process, severe arrhythmia, paresis, paralysis, distortion of facial features.
Impaired vision, speech and hearing occur, dysuria - a person cannot empty the bladder, syncope - a short-term fainting, which is accompanied by impaired muscle tone, a malfunction of the myocardium and respiratory system, and the sensation of goosebumps running across the skin.
Important! If such symptoms develop, the patient must call an ambulance, since treatment should be carried out in a hospital setting.
Blood pressure symptoms 160/100 (110)
The severity of symptoms varies significantly between young and elderly patients. The former experience more vivid symptoms, while the latter may not present any complaints. Characteristic symptoms include severe headache, nausea, which often turns into vomiting, and a feeling of noise in the head.
In men with a pressure of 160, the following complaints may be noted:
- pain in the heart area;
- dyspnea;
- dizziness;
In this case, an increase in heart rate is often observed, as the heart begins to beat faster
- increased heart rate;
- skin hyperemia.
Important: in men, symptoms of hypertension appear much more often after 64 years of age.
For women, the clinic has its own characteristics. They are characterized by poor coordination, increased heart rate, sleep problems, cold extremities and visual disturbances. During a crisis, all symptoms become especially pronounced. A feeling of panic, loss of consciousness, sweating, and so on may occur.
Treatment
If we talk about what to do if a person’s blood pressure rises to 160/90, then it is first necessary to identify the cause of this condition. As a rule, hypertensive patients are well aware of their disease and the provoking factor is well known to them.
In all other cases, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will give all the necessary recommendations. If blood pressure increases very quickly and is accompanied by a significant deterioration in well-being, then the patient urgently needs to call a medical team.
When medication is not required
If the reason for the increase in blood pressure to 160/90 was an external factor - stress, physical overexertion - then no specific measures to stabilize it will be required. In this case, a person needs to create conditions for proper rest and relaxation. It is necessary to ensure a good flow of fresh air in the room by opening the window or the entire window.
Valerian tincture is used if blood pressure has increased due to a stressful situation
To relieve overexcitation from the central nervous system, doctors recommend taking any tincture with a calming effect. For example, valerian or motherwort. If the condition is accompanied by a severe headache, then you can take any painkiller.
Drug treatment
If blood pressure is constantly maintained at 160/90, then the person needs complex treatment. Therapy requires mandatory medication. The following types of medications are used in the process: diuretics, drugs that dilate the lumens of blood vessels, ACE inhibitors, neurotropic drugs, drugs to restore normal myocardial activity.
How can you reduce the pressure from 160 to 90 if you need to do it quickly? In this case, you can use the following medications:
- Captopril. The tablet is designed to dissolve slowly. To do this, place it under the tongue and wait for complete dissolution. As a rule, the patient's well-being improves over the next 15 minutes. Pathological symptoms go away. A contraindication is individual intolerance to the component composition of the medication.
- Nifedipine. It is also used to quickly lower high blood pressure. The tablet is placed under the tongue.
- Propranalol (modern beta blocker). The drug is recommended to be taken in critical situations. Contraindications: heart failure, bronchial asthma.
Classic drug treatment can be supplemented with folk recipes. But they should not cancel their prescribed medications.
Folk recipes
There are many folk recipes that will help reduce and stabilize blood pressure. Before starting treatment, you must consult with your doctor, since the chosen prescription may have its contraindications.
Among the most effective are the following:
- Pour crushed golden mustache (2 tbsp) with strong alcohol (500 ml). Leave in a dark place for 12 hours to infuse. Take 1 dessert spoon of the tincture in the morning immediately after waking up.
- Prepare oatmeal broth. To do this, boil 50 grams of grains in 5 liters of water for 5 minutes after boiling. Let the mixture stand for 4 hours and boil again. Leave for 2 hours and filter. Pour elecampane root (70 grams) with hot broth after crushing it. Bring to a boil and let cool to room temperature. Add 40 grams of honey. Drink a third of a glass three times a day.
- Pour boiling water (250 ml) over blackcurrant berries (2 tbsp). Boil the composition at a minimum boil for 10 minutes. Leave to infuse for 1 hour and filter. Take the resulting drink ¼ of a glass 4 times a day.
- Combine 1 glass of liquid honey with the same volume of fresh carrot and beet juice. Pour in a little lemon juice and stir. Take 1 tbsp. l. mixture once a day after meals, waiting 3 hours.
Treatment is carried out until the desired effect is achieved.
Pulse
When systolic pressure increases, it is important to pay attention to the pulse. It displays the rhythmic oscillations of blood vessels, which correspond to contractions of the heart muscle.
It is by their frequency that one can judge the state of heart health. With a reading of 160 over 80, a pulse of 60-70 beats per minute is considered normal. If you count 80, be sure to get examined by a cardiologist.
A single cardiogram may not be enough to determine the cause of an accelerated heartbeat, so the patient may be referred for an ultrasound of the heart and thyroid gland.
With such indicators, the doctor’s task will be to normalize the heart rhythm by prescribing beta blockers and sedatives to the patient.
A pulse of 80 indicates that the heart is under a lot of stress, and it cannot fully pump blood through the vessels.
Prognosis and possible complications
The prognosis of hypertension depends on the dynamics of the process, as well as the presence of aggravating factors. The resistant form is difficult to cure. The probability of death in the next decade, according to medical statistics, is 35%. The indicator depends on the severity of damage to target organs.
Aggravating factors include age 45 years and older, alcohol abuse, nicotine addiction, heart disease, endocrine system disease now or in history, predisposition at the genetic level, poor response to drug treatment, advanced hypertension, incorrectly selected therapy, arrhythmias, cardiac deformities .
In the absence of treatment, the development of the following complications is possible:
- stroke;
- myocardial infarction;
- cardiogenic shock;
- heart failure;
- renal/liver failure;
- internal bleeding;
- dementia, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to profound mental retardation.
Almost all complications cause premature death of the patient.
Prevention
The following recommendations from doctors can be considered as preventive measures: adherence to the principles of proper nutrition, giving up alcohol and smoking, maintaining an active lifestyle, daily feasible physical activity, timely treatment of any identified diseases. And it is also important to avoid stressful and any other negative situations.
Regular increase in blood pressure to 160/90 mm Hg. Art. – a good reason to seek qualified medical advice. A person with the second stage of hypertension needs to receive medications.
Only timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy will prevent the development of life-threatening complications and significantly improve the quality of life.
