Essential hypertension is a chronic disease that affects the cardiovascular system. The main characteristic of this disease is prolonged and persistent increase in blood pressure. This means that the systolic and diastolic blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm Hg norm. Art.
In medicine often use other names of this diagnosis: primary hypertension, hypertonic disease, Arterial hypertension essencialnaya (EAH).
Causes and risk factors
This pathology referred to as primary hypertension. From the secondary, it differs by several features. So, secondary hypertension It is the result of a disease. Among the root cause may be an endocrine disorder, various diseases or renal vessels. During pathological changes occur in blood pressure.
Primary hypertension is not linked to the severity of the process in the body. Thus, during the diagnosis can not detect diseases that affect the change in pressure resistant. Despite numerous studies in this area, the medicine can not name the exact causes of this disease.
At the same time it was able to identify the main factors that can trigger the development of essential hypertension. In this list are:
- genetic inheritance (half of the patients with the diagnosis have close relatives with the same pathology);
- overweight (this factor increases the risk of developing high blood pressure);
- improper diet (excessive consumption of tea, coffee, alcohol, salty foods);
- smoking (among smokers at high risk for cardiovascular disease);
- frequent psycho-emotional overload and stress;
- lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle.
Until a few decades ago, hypertension was considered a disease that affects mainly older people, but now the situation has changed. Among the patients large numbers of people as young as 50 years old.
Classification of disease in stages
Primary hypertension is divided into stages. Differentiate pathology taken in view of systolic and diastolic blood pressure:
- 1 degree. It is characterized by high blood pressure, which is set in the range of 140-159 / 90-99 mm Hg. Art.
- 2 degree. This degree differs from previous higher rates of blood pressure. It can be up to 160-179 / 100-109 mmHg. Art.
- 3 degree. Such a diagnosis is made to when the upper and lower blood pressure have a higher index of 180/110 mm Hg. Art.
The differentiation of the severity of pathology can more accurately predict the possible development of the risks and determine the most effective therapy.
Another important characteristic that indicates a diagnosis - risk factors. Here distinguished:
- low;
- average;
- tall;
- extremely high.
Feature of essential hypertension is that the higher the risk of complications is possible even with 1 degree of pathology. Everything depends on the set of indicators, including the presence of complications in target organs. This term means that elevated blood pressure can cause pathological changes in internal organs.
symptoms
At the beginning of the development of essential hypertension in adults is often asymptomatic. This is largely due to the elasticity of blood vessels. When the races they can adapt to changes in pressure, and after normalization of the return lumen to the usual width. For this reason, most patients hardly notice the changes in his condition.
In the second stage there AER hypertensive crises. They are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- increased sweating body;
- redness of the skin;
- noise in ears;
- anxiety;
- nausea, possible vomiting;
- headache and a feeling of pulsation in the temples;
- dyspnea;
- pain in the sternum;
- darkening of the eyes, flashing "flies".
According to the above features easy to identify hypertensive crisis. In addition, symptoms from the target organs.
When lesions of the heart shows signs of coronary artery disease and heart failure. If struck by the kidney, there are symptoms of kidney failure.
If the disease has spread to the brain, there are visual disturbances, signs of neurological disorders and hypertensive encephalopathy. If you hurt the peripheral vessels, there is intermittent claudication.
Diagnostics
This disease is detected exclusion method. Diagnosis of primary hypertension based on multiple measurements of the patient's blood pressure. Such procedures shall be at least 3. They should be carried out on different days and at different times. In this case, measuring only need to use a mercury sphygmomanometer and the method of N. FROM. Korotkov. If all dimensions of performance will be enhanced, diagnose hypertension. For additional tests prescribed:
- blood analysis;
- Analysis of urine;
- ECG;
- Ultrasound of the heart and other internal organs.
If abnormalities are not detected, then exclude secondary hypertension.
Treatment
To combat the essential hypertension treatment should be based on an integrated approach. As part of the therapy, it is important to reduce blood pressure to the performance standards and prevent possible complications.
Doctors prescribe medication and correction of patient's lifestyle.
medications
Take medication alone is not recommended. Medications prescribed by the doctor on the basis of test results. List and dosage of drugs in each case will be individual. Among the following medicines:
- ACE inhibitors. By taking these drugs reduced the risk of complications. The list of this group lisinopril, enalapril, Kapropril.
- calcium antagonists. The reception of such means leads to the removal of spasm of vascular wall, weakens them. Recommended for patients with coronary artery disease and arrhythmias. The list Calcium antagonists: verapamil, diltiazem, amlodipine.
- Diuretics. They can be used for relief of hypertensive crisis or to take for a long time. The most popular in the treatment are: Furosemide, Veroshpiron, Torasemide.
- Imidazoline receptor agonists. Their reception in essential hypertension contributes to the acceleration of metabolic processes in the body. The list of such drugs include Moxonidine.
- Cardiac glycosides.
- Antagonists of angiotensin II receptors.
Drug-free methods
In addition to drug treatment, the following actions are assigned:
- reducing the amount of coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, fatty and salty foods;
- in the presence of excess weight to achieve its reduction;
- avoidance of stress, more rest, to watch a full-fledged bed.
The task of the physician, the attending these methods is to prevent complications.
possible complications
In the absence of timely treatment of essential primary hypertension appears at high risk of complications. These may be diseases of the cardiovascular system, brain and kidney damage.
