High blood pressure or hypertension

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— Cardiovascular diseases — How to quickly lower blood pressure at home
Consistently high blood pressure is a pathological condition indicating the development of a dangerous disease - hypertension. Arterial hypertension is the most common disease in the world. Without timely treatment, hypertension causes complications such as diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidney failure, and loss of vision.

The importance of high blood pressure as a risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases increases with age.

Normal blood pressure numbers

The movement of blood through a closed circulatory system is the joint work of the heart and blood vessels.

There are two indicators of blood pressure:

1. Systolic (upper) pressure is formed during the period of myocardial contraction, when blood from the left ventricle is ejected into the vascular bed.
2. Diastolic (lower) pressure is maintained in the vessels during the diastole phase - the period of relaxation of the heart after contraction.

The unit of measurement for blood pressure is the millimeter of mercury (mmHg). This is due to the fact that the first device in history to measure blood pressure was mercury, and the result was determined by the level of the mercury column. The International Association of Cardiology has determined the norm for blood pressure to be no higher than 130/80 mmHg.

In a healthy person, blood pressure changes during the day under the influence of external and internal factors: physical activity, stressful situations. This is a normal adaptive reaction. The body contains mechanisms of nervous and humoral regulation that return blood pressure to its original level after the cessation of the action of provoking factors.

Effects of hypertension on the heart

Hypertension affects the entire body, but the target organs that come under attack suffer the most. First of all, the following organs and systems are at risk: blood vessels and heart, brain, kidneys and organ of vision.

It is worth noting that with increased intravascular pressure, the heart is subjected to heavy load, because the main task of this organ is to provide the entire body with the optimal amount of blood. Consequently, blood enters the ventricles in a volume less than normal, and the heart begins to work more actively to complete the task. Then the person's heart rate increases.

Because of this factor, an enlargement of the heart cavity may be observed, diseases may develop, and the working life of the main organ may decrease. In this case, a person may experience shortness of breath and swelling of the limbs.

Consequently, if hypertension was not detected in a timely manner, the heart begins to work unstably, causing disruption of intravascular blood flow and, as a result, the condition of the blood vessels themselves deteriorates.

What pressure is considered high

Provoking factors that cause increased blood pressure include:

• At a young age: smoking, addiction to alcohol, drug use, congenital anomaly of the renal vessels, vegetative-vascular dystonia, pathology of the adrenal glands, pituitary gland.
• With age, the role of obesity, endocrine pathologies (diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism), diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and in women - hormonal imbalance during menopause, and neuropsychic overload increases in the development of hypertension.
• In old and senile age, atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels come to the fore.

Arterial hypertension is diagnosed when systolic and diastolic pressure levels are equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg. Art.

A persistent increase in systolic and diastolic pressure by 5-10 mmHg. Art. increases the incidence of strokes by 30-40%, and heart attacks by 25-30%.

Pathological causes

The specific causes of high blood pressure can only be determined in cases of secondary hypertension.

Most often, a persistent rise in blood pressure is caused by:

• kidney pathologies (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, polycystic disease, tumors; disorders of the renal vessels - narrowing (stenosis) of the renal arteries, complications of diabetes in the form of nephropathy);
• hormonal disorders (metabolic syndrome, thyroid pathologies, adrenal gland disorders, pituitary pathologies, diabetes mellitus);
• neurogenic causes (increased intracranial pressure, encephalitis, brain tumor, head injury, circulatory disorders in brain structures - strokes);
• diseases of the aorta and great vessels (premature atherosclerosis, aortic stenosis);
• taking medications (hormonal contraceptives, replacement therapy during menopause, anti-inflammatory drugs, genetic engineering biological therapy);
• toxic effects (alcohol abuse, intoxication with lead compounds);
• Sleep apnea syndrome is a sudden temporary cessation of breathing during sleep (the pathology leads to the release of adrenaline during sleep).

Ways to lower blood pressure permanently

In the initial stages of hypertension, the first step is to prescribe therapy with non-drug methods associated with changing the patient’s lifestyle:

• To give up smoking. Tobacco smoking is recognized as one of the main risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension. One cigarette smoked leads to a sharp increase in blood pressure and increased heart rate.
• Normalization of body weight. Numerous studies have proven that losing weight in overweight or obese patients leads to stabilization of blood pressure.
• Increasing physical activity. Regular dynamic physical exercises in the air for 50-40 minutes at least 4 times a week are recommended.
• Reducing salt intake to 5 g/day.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Compliance with the work and rest regime.
• Balanced diet. Increasing the proportion of plant foods and low-fat dairy products in the diet.

While blood pressure is slightly elevated, following the principles of a healthy lifestyle can stabilize blood pressure at a normal level with minimal drug support or even without drugs at all.

As the disease progresses, hypertension is treated using medications from various pharmacological groups to achieve a reduction in blood pressure to normal levels.

First aid at home for symptoms of high blood pressure:

1. It is necessary to reassure the patient and create conditions for physical and emotional peace.
2. Provide a flow of fresh air into the room.
3. Breathing exercises help to quickly reduce pressure: take a deep breath, hold your breath for 10 seconds, exhale noisily through your mouth, then take short breaths in and out through your mouth for 2 minutes.
4. Give the patient Corvalol to drink: dissolve 30 drops in 100 ml of water.

If attacks recur repeatedly, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause of the increase in pressure.

Psychological reasons

Short-term stress can, in part, even be beneficial for the body: it activates metabolism, improves oxygen saturation of tissues, tones and energizes. But a constant stressful state (nervous tension, increased anxiety, emotional instability, fear, irritability) becomes “favorable” soil for the development of chronic diseases. Under the influence of “stress hormones” (cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine), the regulation of the state of blood vessels is disrupted - this becomes the cause of the development of hypertension.

Research shows that psychological causes of high blood pressure may include:

• a certain type of personality - choleric people, who are prone to strong emotional reactions, suffer from hypertension more often than others;
• social factors - constant anxiety about the environment negatively affects the condition of blood vessels;
• conflict situations that arise in the family or at work.

Among the psychopathological causes of hypertension are:

• anxiety disorder;
• apathy;
• depression;
• panic attacks.

High blood pressure can be practically the only symptom of hidden (“masked”) depression, so people with hypertension often need to consult a psychotherapist.

In addition, stress can cause additional risk factors for hypertension - smoking, alcohol abuse, and unhealthy diet.

How to measure pressure correctly

Rules for measuring blood pressure (BP):

Blood pressure is measured when a person is at rest: no earlier than 1.5–2 hours after eating, smoking, drinking coffee and other tonic drinks.

The best position for measuring pressure is when the person is sitting on a chair and the hand on which the pressure is supposed to be measured is placed on the table. The part of the arm on which the cuff is applied must be freed from pressure clothing and the muscles relaxed, as muscle contractions can lead to incorrect results.

The cuff, depending on the type of tonometer, is applied either to the lower third of the shoulder, not reaching 2.5 cm to the upper edge of the cubital fossa, or to the wrist.

While the tonometer is operating, it is important to maintain a motionless posture, do not move your hand, do not talk, or worry.

For the first time, the pressure is measured on both hands. If the difference between the readings does not exceed 10 mm Hg. Art., then subsequent measurements are usually performed on the non-working hand - for right-handers on the left, for left-handers - on the right. If the indicators differ by more than 10 mm Hg. Art. it is necessary to measure the pressure on the arm, where large numbers are recorded.

It is necessary to measure blood pressure, especially for people who have already been diagnosed with hypertension, twice a day: in the morning an hour after waking up and in the evening before going to bed. The number of measurements during the day varies depending on how you feel, if alarming symptoms appear indicating increased blood pressure.

Patients measuring blood pressure at home are advised to record the results in a special diary. Such blood pressure monitoring allows you to monitor blood pressure levels and evaluate the effectiveness of medications used to reduce blood pressure.

Blood pressure is measured using a special tonometer device.

Two modifications of tonometers are used:

1. Mechanical
2. Semi-automatic

Mechanical aneroid sphygmomanometers are used mainly in medical institutions, since their use requires certain knowledge and skills. The cuff is placed on the shoulder, air is pumped into its chamber using a rubber bulb, and tones are listened to using a phonendoscope.

For home use, it is better to use automatic or semi-automatic models of tonometers.

A semi-automatic tonometer works on the following principle: a cuff is fastened on the wrist, air is pumped into it with a bulb, which soon comes out automatically. At the end of the measurement, the results appear on the display.

To operate the automatic blood pressure monitor, simply place the cuff on your wrist and press the start button. All other actions occur automatically. Various types of automatic tonometers have been developed: with a shoulder cuff, wrist, finger.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

Very often, the increase in pressure does not manifest itself for a long time. This is the insidiousness of hypertension. It is not for nothing that the disease is called the “silent killer” - for many years the pathological process progresses in the body: the heart, blood vessels, kidneys are destroyed, but the person feels well, so he does not go to the doctor.

Over time, the patient develops fatigue, headaches of varying degrees of intensity, decreased performance, and sleep disturbances. Damage to target organs causes pain in the heart, blurred vision, irritability, and decreased performance.

Signs of high blood pressure:

• Hypertensive crisis is a dangerous condition caused by a sharp increase in blood pressure to high numbers (190/120 mm Hg).
• Symptoms of a hypertensive crisis:
• A sharp headache, mainly in the occipital region.
• Tachycardia, shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Visual impairment.
• Dizziness.

Trying to lower your blood pressure on your own can lead to myocardial infarction or stroke. If symptoms indicating high blood pressure appear, you should immediately call an ambulance and urgently take measures to reduce the pressure.

Before the medical team arrives:

1. Sit the patient down and place pillows under his back.
2. Check pressure every 15 minutes.
3. Hot foot bath for blood flow to the lower extremities. For this purpose, mustard plasters are also applied to the calves of the legs.
4. An antihypertensive tablet under the tongue - Andipal, Capoten, Captopril.

Differential diagnosis

To understand which option the increase in blood pressure relates to, you can use the differential diagnostic criteria (Table 1).
Table 1. Criteria for differential diagnosis of hypertension and secondary hypertension

Only a doctor can reliably determine the type of hypertension: a specialist will prescribe an examination plan to find the causes of high blood pressure.