Arterial hypertension: what is it and how to relieve symptoms and lower blood pressure?

Arterial hypertension (hypertension) is a disease, the main and main symptom of which is a persistent increase in blood pressure (over 140/90 mm Hg).

Depending on the degree of excess of normal blood pressure, hypertension can have 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees.

The main danger of hypertension is that this disease tends to progress. The last, third stage of hypertension poses an immediate threat to life, since at any time it can lead to complications such as heart attack, stroke, hypertensive crisis.

Meanwhile, antihypertensive drugs prescribed for hypertension only help to temporarily reduce blood pressure, only at its current values, and do not in any way prevent the progression of the disease. As a result, the dosage of drugs has to be increased, and the disease continues to worsen until it leads to a fatal complication.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is high blood pressure. In this condition, blood pressure on the walls of the arteries steadily increases. This can result in changes in the heart muscle, brain and kidneys, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.

Blood pressure is determined by the volume of blood the heart pumps and the resistance of blood flow in the arteries. The more blood the heart transports and the narrower the arteries, the higher the blood pressure. Blood pressure is calculated in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is measured by two indicators:

The first or top indicator is systolic pressure. It measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle contracts.
The second or lower indicator is diastolic pressure. It measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.

Imagine that your body is a multi-story building, and the water pressure in it is blood pressure. If the pressure is weak, then the water does not reach the upper floors. As with low blood pressure, blood does not flow to the brain, and we feel weak or even lose consciousness. But with consistently strong water pressure in the house, pipes and equipment are destroyed over time. Just like arteries with chronically high blood pressure.

Treatment

Is it possible to cure hypertension of secondary origin? In order to forever rid yourself of hypertension that has arisen against the background of an underlying disease, you must first of all detect it. A complete examination and visits to various specialists will lead to the desired results.

Having established an accurate diagnosis, the form of the disease is determined. If the disease can be treated with medication, then it is enough to complete the prescribed course using tablets, injections and other methods. If therapeutic measures are successful, pressure is forgotten forever.

Most often, the need for surgery arises due to health problems. The decision to undergo surgery is made when a person’s condition threatens his life. For example, with stenosis (narrowing) of a section of an artery, congenital or acquired, reaching critical limits (the lumen narrows by 50% or more). In this situation, deterioration of blood flow leads to secondary arterial hypertension, while the heart and blood vessels are affected, and tissues of other organs (kidneys, eyes, brain) are destroyed.

Is it possible to get rid of hypertension permanently with surgery? An operation to remove the problem area and plastic surgery of the damaged vessel will help end high blood pressure forever, but only if it is carried out in a timely manner.

Stages of hypertension

For each person, the blood pressure norm is individual. However, the diagnosis of hypertension is most often made when, after measuring blood pressure on two different days, the systolic pressure is equal to or greater than 120 mmHg. Art. and/or the diastolic pressure value is equal to or greater than 80 mmHg. Art.

In this case, high pressure has its own degrees:

I degree - increase in systolic pressure from 139 to 159 mm Hg. art (diastolic oscillation interval - 90-99 mm Hg);
II degree - increase in systolic pressure from 160 to 170 mm Hg. Art. (diastolic oscillation interval - 100-109 mm Hg);
III degree - pressure rises above 180 mm Hg. Art.

There are three stages of hypertension:

Stage I – mild, blood pressure rises briefly and irregularly, normalizes under favorable conditions; no target organ damage is observed.
Stage II – moderate, high blood pressure can only be reduced with the help of medications; There is damage to target organs: the heart, kidneys, brain, as well as blood vessels, including the eyes.
Stage III – severe, target organ damage occurs with thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

Many people have high blood pressure without any symptoms for a long time. However, there are several common signs of hypertension: morning headaches, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, irregular heart rhythms, blurred vision, and ringing in the ears.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to complications such as heart attack or stroke, aneurysm, heart failure, kidney damage, vision loss, metabolic problems, memory problems and dementia.

You can measure your blood pressure yourself, but to make an accurate diagnosis, we advise you to consult a specialist.

What influences the appearance of hypertension?

Here's what contributes to the development of high blood pressure:

Age . Typically, those at risk for developing hypertension include men over 55 years of age and women over 65 years of age. But the disease is also common among young people.
Heredity . Predisposition to high blood pressure is often due to genetics. If your family had a similar problem, you should take care of this health factor now. You can learn about the risk of developing arterial hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, and receive recommendations for prevention and treatment using the Atlas Genetic Test.

What can you learn from a genetic test?

Race. People of African descent are more likely to develop hypertension than other races. In black people, the disease often develops at a young age and has complications.
Lack of physical activity . Typically, people who do not exercise have a higher heart rate. And the higher the heart rate, the more actively the heart must work and the greater the pressure on the arteries. Lack of physical activity also increases the risk of being overweight.
Overweight. The more a person weighs, the more blood is needed to supply tissues with oxygen and nutrients. Due to the increased volume of blood flow in the blood vessels, the pressure on the artery walls also increases. A balanced diet rich in fiber, vegetables and fruits will help keep your weight and blood pressure normal. You can receive recommendations for individual nutrition thanks to the Atlas genetic test.
Smoking. Tobacco use not only temporarily increases blood pressure, but can also damage the lining of artery walls due to the chemicals it contains. And as a result, it can lead to narrowing of the arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.
High salt (sodium) content in the diet. Excessive consumption of salty foods retains fluid in the body, and this, in turn, increases blood pressure.
High sodium levels are found in processed foods, such as: - bread (≈ 250 mg/100 g), - bacon (≈ 1500 mg/100 g), - cheese balls or popcorn (≈ 1500 mg/100 g), - soy sauce (≈ 7000 - 21,900 mg/100 g), - bouillon cubes (≈ 20,000 mg/100 g).
Insufficient potassium content in the diet. Potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in the body and affects heart health. If you don't get enough potassium or lose too much due to dehydration or other illnesses, sodium can build up in your blood.
Large amounts of potassium are found in various foods: - beans and peas (≈ 1,300 mg/100 g), - nuts (≈ 600 mg/100 g), - vegetables such as spinach, cabbage and parsley (≈ 550 mg/100 g) , - fruits such as bananas, papaya and dates (≈ 300 mg/100 g).
Heat processing reduces the amount of potassium in many foods.
Excessive sugar consumption. Research suggests that added sugars, including fructose, may increase blood pressure and increase heart rate. WHO recommends reducing daily intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake. That's 200 calories, or about 12 teaspoons (about 60 g) based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet. Examples of added sugars and their calorie content: - 1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup = 12 kcal of added sugars - 1 jar of flavored yogurt (28 g) = 72 kcal of added sugars - 1 45 g chocolate bar = 74 kcal of added sugars - 1 can of soda (330 ml) = 126 kcal of added sugars - 1 piece of chocolate cake (100-150 g) = 196 kcal of added sugars.
Alcohol. Over time, drinking too much alcohol can harm your heart. Drinking more than one alcoholic drink per day for women and more than two alcoholic drinks per day for men negatively affects blood pressure.
Stress. High levels of stress can lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure. And habits associated with stressful conditions - overeating, drinking alcohol and smoking - aggravate the situation.
Chronic diseases. Some chronic conditions can also increase the risk of hypertension: kidney disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea.
Pregnancy. Many women experience increased blood pressure during pregnancy.

Hypertension is more common in adults, but children are also at risk. High blood pressure in children is caused by kidney or heart problems, poor diet and lack of exercise.

What does blood pressure depend on?

Firstly, on the volume of circulating blood. If the blood volume of an adult is approximately 5 liters, then 2/3 of it is in the vessels.

When the volume of blood in the vessels increases, the pressure increases; when the volume decreases, the pressure decreases.

And in what cases does it (i.e., the volume of circulating blood) increase? For example, in case of kidney diseases, when they cannot cope with the task of removing everything unnecessary.

What should you do in this case?

First of all, improve kidney function.

In the meantime, the court and business, drive the “excess” liquid from the vessels.

The action of diuretics is based on this. They expelled excess fluid, reduced the volume of circulating blood in the vessels, and lowered the pressure.

Secondly, blood pressure depends on the diameter of the vessels through which blood flows. The smaller the diameter, the more the vessel walls resist blood flow, the higher the pressure.

Probably everyone was holding a hose in their hands. Remember how the pressure from it increases if you squeeze it with your fingers? It's the same principle here.

The diameter of blood vessels can decrease in three cases:

Spasm, i.e. contraction of muscle fibers of the vascular wall.
A cholesterol plaque in the lumen of a vessel, a thrombus, or all together.
External factors that put pressure on the vessel from the outside. For example, spasming muscles.

Thirdly, pressure depends on the work of the heart. The more intense the pump works, the more blood it pumps per unit of time, the higher the pressure.

This means that if you force it to contract with less force, then the pressure will decrease.

Is everything clear yet?

Go ahead.

Genetic factors in the development of hypertension

Many genetic studies have revealed the stability of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). This is the human hormonal system that regulates blood pressure, blood volume, and the balance of fluids and salts in the body. Changes in this system may contribute to the development of hypertension.

But today there is data that shows a predisposition to the development of hypertension much more accurately and up-to-date. For example, genome-wide associations are worth considering. The NOS3 gene synthesizes nitric oxide and relaxes the walls of blood vessels, APOE is a cholesterol transporter, specific polymorphisms in the ADRB1 gene affect resting heart rate and may be associated with heart failure.

How to lower blood pressure and cure hypertension?

Hypertension is a chronic cardiovascular disease. It cannot be cured completely, but symptoms can only be relieved with medication. Hypertensive patients are dependent on medications, have limited diet and exercise, and are always at risk of developing new diseases.

To maintain quality of life, it is important to minimize risks before the disease actively develops. This can be done using the Atlas genetic test, which includes information about predisposition to the disease, as well as recommendations for prevention.

To treat high blood pressure, you need to consult a specialist. But below you will find tips for preventing and controlling hypertension.

Reduce salt intake (no more than 1.5 g per day)
Limit consumption of foods high in saturated fats and trans fats
Avoid or reduce consumption of sugar, alcohol, coffee and tobacco
Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet
Exercise regularly
Reduce and control stress conditions
Measure blood pressure regularly
Treat high blood pressure and other conditions with the help of a specialist.

In case of a hypertensive crisis, you must call a doctor and not self-medicate. Traditional methods will also not be beneficial. There are many medications available to lower blood pressure. Depending on the symptoms and characteristics of the body, doctors recommend:

ACE inhibitors
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
Alpha blockers
Beta blockers

Most people need to take more than one type of medicine to better control their blood pressure.

How to recover?

If hypertension develops as an independent disease (primary), medications will not be needed to successfully treat it at an early stage. How to overcome the disease? The most effective remedy is to remove all provoking factors from the patient’s life. In addition, blood pressure is normalized using traditional medicine and other alternative treatment methods.

Factors that exclude:

errors in diet;
lack of physical activity;
increased stress on the psycho-emotional system;
physical stress;
consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.

There are situations when it is impossible to eliminate the provoking factor, or it is difficult to do so. This happens with the development of a special form of hypertension: drug-induced. In this case, high blood pressure occurs as a side effect of taking certain medications. It is advisable to remove such drugs or find an alternative to them, then hypertension will disappear by itself. If this cannot be done, the dosage and dosage regimen of the drug are reviewed; it may be worth taking a pause for some time.

On a note:

Hypertension is a multifactorial disease that manifests itself as a persistent increase in blood pressure and depends on genetic predisposition and lifestyle.
Men over 55 years of age and women over 65 years of age are at risk for the disease. However, the disease is also common among young people and children.
Hypertension is a “silent killer” because it is often asymptomatic. To find out the presence of the disease, you need to regularly monitor your blood pressure levels and consult a specialist. Genetic testing will help determine predisposition and prevent the development of the disease.
If your blood pressure suddenly increases, it is important to call a doctor or take medications recommended by a specialist. Self-medication with folk remedies for this condition is ineffective and even dangerous.
Risk factors for high blood pressure: age, heredity, lack of physical activity, excess weight, smoking, alcohol, excess salt and lack of potassium, stress and chronic diseases.
Hypertension negatively affects all areas of a person’s life. A hypotensive person must take medications regularly, limit diet and exercise. Headaches, cerebrovascular accidents, edema, increased risk of developing atherosclerosis, heart and kidney diseases are companions of arterial hypertension.
Hypertension cannot be cured, but symptoms can be controlled with medications and its progression can be prevented with a balanced diet, regular exercise and stress reduction.

Sources:

Oparil S. et al., Hypertension Review
Williams B. et al.,2018 ESC/ESH Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: The Task Force for the management of arterial hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Society of Hypertension (ESH)
Umemura S. et al.,The Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension
Curfman G. et al., Treatment and Control of Hypertension in 2020: The Need for Substantial Improvement
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High blood pressure//Prevention//Causes//Diagnosis//Treatment

Who is to blame for high blood pressure?

1. “Nerves.” We freaked out, the adrenal glands released adrenaline, the heart began to work harder, the blood vessels spasmed (narrowed), and the pressure increased.

In general, this mechanism was not invented by the Creator by chance. Imagine a situation when you are walking calmly down the street and suddenly you see a huge dog rushing straight towards you. What are you going to do? Stand as before? NO! You will either take something in your hands for protection, or you will “make your legs”, that is, give it a go.

To do this, you need to tense your muscles so that they are prepared to fight or flee, supply them with oxygen, and therefore speed up the heart. Otherwise you'll be screwed.

And now the situation is different. This is a difficult buyer for you. He exhausted your soul, demanding that you let go of “something from the pressure.”

You steadfastly resist the onslaught, explaining that these drugs are prescribed only by a doctor.

But he doesn’t calm down, he starts accusing you of unprofessionalism and so on and so forth. A wave of indignation, irritation, and maybe even a desire to crack him properly rises inside you.

Can you hit him? No.

How about yelling back? You can, of course, but it will cost you more. There will be complaints, calls to the authorities, this and that... So again, no.

And if this situation occurs day after day, then hypertension can become your companion for the rest of your life.

2. Increased levels of “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) in the blood.

With age, the elasticity of blood vessels decreases. High blood pressure, which becomes a frequent visitor, begins to damage the walls of blood vessels. While the inner lining of the vessels is smooth, nothing sticks to it.

But as soon as damage appears in it, the same low-density lipoproteins that eventually form cholesterol plaques begin to stick to them.

They further narrow the blood vessels and further reduce their elasticity.

3. Love of salty foods. Salt attracts water, increasing the volume of circulating blood, and therefore pressure.

4. Overweight. Body weight increases, but the length of blood vessels and the size of the heart remain the same. Under these conditions, they have to work harder to “feed” and “drink” the extra 10-20 kg. At first they cope with this, but in the end, they throw out the white flag and begin to work through the stump deck.

5. Smoking. The harmful substances contained in tobacco smoke constrict blood vessels, increasing blood pressure, plus they damage their walls, and “bad” cholesterol begins to stick to them.

6. Alcohol. It is a mistake to think that it dilates blood vessels. Vasodilation is replaced by persistent spasm, and the pressure jumps again.

7. Physical inactivity. It reduces the elasticity of the vascular wall. When we move, the pressure in the vessels constantly changes, and the vascular wall either contracts or relaxes, in general, it trains. This does not happen with a sedentary lifestyle.

8. Well, and heredity. Where would we be without her?