One of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system is hypertension. Statistics show that about 30% of the adult population and more than 60% of people who have crossed the 65-year threshold face such a diagnosis. In the article you can read about hypertension, its causes, symptoms, treatments and how to lower high blood pressure on your own.
Blood pressure
The blood ejected by contractions of the heart into the vessels exerts constant pressure on their walls. It is not the same in different parts of the bloodstream. The farther away the blood goes from the heart, the weaker it puts pressure on the vessels. For example, in the aorta, the pressure reaches 140/90 mm Hg. Art., in the arteries - an average of 120/80 mm Hg. Art., in small capillaries only 15 mm Hg. Art., and in the veins it can drop to zero. We are interested in the numbers corresponding to the pressure in the arteries, since theyare the most important indicator of human he alth and its cardiovascular system. What do these two numbers mean? The first shows the force with which the blood presses on the arteries at the moment of cardiac contraction, that is, the maximum, systolic pressure, and the second - at the moment of relaxation of the heart, this is diastolic pressure. Hypertension occurs all the time, and the question of how to lower high blood pressure is faced by many people. Before getting acquainted with ways to overcome the symptoms of arterial hypertension, consider the mechanisms of its formation.
Upper pressure
Systole is the contraction of the heart muscles. Upper arterial pressure is also called systolic because it expresses the pressure in the vessels as the ventricles push blood into the bloodstream. Increased upper pressure occurs due to many reasons. It can be observed in adolescence, when hormonal changes in the body occur. It is noted that systolic hypertension occurs in most cases if a person encountered it during puberty. The second risk group for developing high blood pressure is the elderly. The causes of hypertension in them are a number of accumulated disorders in the body. First of all, it is atherosclerosis, a decrease in the elasticity of blood vessels. In addition, the development of systolic hypertension can be triggered by such phenomena as:
- thyrotoxicosis or increased secretion of the thyroid gland;
- aortic valve insufficiency;
- arteriovenous bypass;
- blockadehearts.
High top pressure is fraught with dangerous consequences. For example, the risk of stroke in systolic hypertension increases fourfold. Among the complex consequences, it is worth noting kidney failure, the development of dementia or dementia, and various heart diseases. Kidney function that maintains normal blood pressure is impaired. This is due to increased sodium reabsorption when the total volume of circulating blood increases. If you have upper high blood pressure, what should you take in this case? The answer to this question is given below.
Systolic hypertension symptoms
The normal systolic pressure is 110-130 mm Hg. Art. An elevated upper pressure is an indicator that exceeds this value. How does high blood pressure manifest itself? Among its symptoms should be named:
- headache;
- weakness, fatigue;
- restless sleep;
- noise in the ears, flashing "flies" before the eyes;
- arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm;
- unpleasant and painful sensations in the region of the heart;
- shortness of breath.
All of these manifestations can be regarded as signs of systolic hypertension only when they are accompanied by an increase in pressure when measured directly. Each of them can be a symptom of other diseases. Quite often systolic hypertension has no obvious subjective signs. The most dangerous is the so-called isolated systolichypertension, in which the upper pressure exceeds 140 mm Hg. Art., and the lower one is less than 80 mm Hg. Art. This condition often develops due to increased endocrine activity of the thyroid gland and the presence of heart valve disease. If you have high blood pressure, read on for how to lower it.
Lower pressure
Diastole is the state of the heart in which it is in a relaxed state. The blood pressure that the arteries experience in this case is called the lower (or diastolic). Increased low blood pressure is often caused by stressful situations, excessive emotional stress, which disrupt the regulation of blood vessel tone. With this etiology, the numbers on the tonometer display quickly return to normal. But if this does not happen, and the lower pressure is kept above 80 mm Hg. Art. long time, we are talking about more serious reasons for its jumps. What provokes high blood pressure, why does such a disorder develop? Factors include:
- hyperthyroidism already mentioned above;
- overweight;
- kidney disease;
- intervertebral hernia.
Kidney problems in most cases cause diastolic hypertension. Why? With kidney disease, their blood supply is reduced, and they begin to release large amounts of renin into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, this compound forms a substance (angiotensin), which contributes to a significant increase in blood pressure. HowDoes diastolic hypertension manifest itself? Its symptoms can be found below.
Diastolic hypertension symptoms
With increased lower pressure, the heart is constantly in a state of tension, as the resistance of blood vessels to blood flow increases in the arterioles. The increased lower pressure manifests itself in the same way as the upper one. Moreover, these two types of hypertension often coexist. With high diastolic pressure, headaches are observed, often localized in the occipital region, dizziness, severe arrhythmia and other symptoms that are also characteristic of increased upper pressure.
So, hypertension is a disease in which blood pressure rises. It comes in two types:
- Symptomatic, when the cause of the violation is identified.
- Idiopathic or essential when it is not possible to recognize the factors that led to its development. This type of hypertension is also called hypertension.
Complications
High blood pressure is far from a harmless disorder. This disease, in the absence of adequate treatment, primarily affects the following organs:
- kidneys;
- heart;
- brain.
Among the dangerous consequences are pathologies such as coronary heart disease, blood clots, heart attack, angina pectoris and the most serious complication - hypertensive crisis. The kidney tissue is also affected, and laterother organs. Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the brain and visual analyzer develops, in connection with which the risk of stroke increases, vision decreases.
Hypertension treatment
Many do not know how to deal with such a problem as high blood pressure. Herbs, diet and a he althy lifestyle will help solve it. However, outpatient treatment is often required. Read on to find out how to lower high blood pressure using medications. Therapy for systolic hypertension should be aimed at reducing the tonometer readings to less than 150 mm Hg. Art. Drug treatment necessarily accompanies the observance of a diet that allows you to lose weight. It is necessary to give up alcohol, ideally completely eliminate it from consumption. Some sources claim that a small amount of hard liquor, due to its vasodilating action, can lower blood pressure. This is a misconception, so you should not use alcoholic beverages for either the treatment or prevention of hypertension. But the true effectiveness comes from regular physical activity. Jogging in the morning, home fitness or exercising in the gym strengthens the heart and blood vessels, eliminates excess body fat, preventing hypertension, in particular, lower high blood pressure. What to drink with arterial hypertension? This is the subject of the next part of the article.
Medicines
You have high blood pressure. What pills are needed in order toknock him down? There are several groups of drugs for the treatment of hypertension:
- diuretics or diuretics;
- renin inhibitors;
- calcium antagonists;
- beta blockers;
- ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors;
- angiotensin receptor blockers;
- medicines of central action.
If you have high blood pressure, Citramon (tablets) is contraindicated. This drug, in addition to acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol, contains caffeine in its composition. This substance has a vasodilating effect on the brain, kidneys and heart, and also increases diuresis. Increased pressure "Citramon" (tablets) does not reduce. The tool is forbidden to take with atherosclerosis, heart disease and hypertension. Therefore, when you have a headache, do not rush to get a package of these pills from your home first aid kit - measure your blood pressure first.
Diuretics
A few years ago, diuretics were widely used to treat hypertension. Modern doctors do not recommend abusing them, especially drugs with a pronounced effect. The main harm of diuretics is the leaching of calcium, sodium and other ions from the body, which play a huge role in the normal functioning of the heart. To date, diuretics are mainly part of the combined preparations for lowering blood pressure. In its pure form, diuretics can be prescribed by the treatinga doctor for severe forms of hypertension for older people over 70 years old, as well as an additional medicine for the ineffectiveness of already prescribed medications. Of the diuretics, the most common drugs are Hypothiazid, Indap, Akripamide. If you have high blood pressure, you should not take fast-acting diuretics (for example, Furosemide or Veroshpiron).
Renin inhibitors
There are few such drugs, they are never used alone and are prescribed in combination with other drugs. One of the most famous renin inhibitors today is Aliskiren. Its action is based on the suppression of renin activity and a decrease in the concentration of angiotensin in the blood plasma. Another name for the remedy is "Rasilez". Its price is quite high, and the attending physician prescribes this medicine as needed.
Calcium Antagonists
This group of drugs is divided into two categories:
- ACP or heart rate;
- AKD or dihydropyridine.
The first of these is more common, since high blood pressure and high heart rate often go hand in hand. Pulse-lowering calcium antagonists are allowed in asthma, they effectively reduce pressure. Here are some examples of such drugs: Verapamil, Altiazem, Verogalide. The second category of medicines is represented by a number of effective means, including: "Felodipine","Tenox", "Cordy Cor", "Lerkamen" and others. The forerunner of modern dihydropyridine calcium antagonists was the drug Kordafen (other names are Fenigidin, Adalat, Nifedipine). In connection with its side effects in hypertension, the choice should be stopped on modern medicines. Even doctors do not recommend this remedy, especially for exacerbations.
Beta blockers
At one time, the developers of this group of medicines were awarded the Nobel Prize. The effect of beta-blockers is to lower blood pressure and decrease heart rate. Such funds are indicated for hypertensive patients with angina pectoris, arrhythmic disorders and tachycardia. It is not recommended to use these drugs for people suffering from diabetes and bronchial asthma. Examples of medicines: Bisoprolol, Acridiol, Coronal, Vasocardin and others.
ACE Inhibitors
Among the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, it is worth highlighting the most used drug - Enalapril. It has a pronounced, but short-lived effect, so you need to take it twice a day. The remedy is very effective both with increased lower pressure and with systolic hypertension, it has been successfully used to overcome hypertensive crises. The basis of the action of ACE inhibitors is the suppression of the synthesis of angiotensin in the body - a substance that leads to vasoconstriction and increases blood pressure. On the heart rate described groupdrugs do not have a pronounced effect. Examples of ACE inhibitors: Lysigamma, Renitek, Enap, Pyramil.
Angiotensin receptor blockers
Many hypertensive patients who take the aforementioned ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure develop a side effect such as coughing. For such people, angiotensin receptor blockers have been created. These drugs work like ACE inhibitors, but are much more expensive. It seems possible to feel the effect of their use only by the end of the first or second week of treatment. Examples of drugs: Diovan, Atakand, Losartan.
Medicines of central action
Increased upper pressure, as well as lower pressure, needs complex therapy. In its composition, centrally acting drugs are often used, which are indicated for hypertensive patients with an unstable nervous system, and also as an evening medicine to prevent night attacks. Among the medicines of the group we will name "Dopegyt", "Physiotens", "Albarel". The drug "Dopegit" (aka "Methyldopa") is often prescribed to pregnant women with high blood pressure. By the way, one of the first drugs of central action for the treatment of hypertension was Clonidine. It gave a good effect, but the side effects of the medicine could be the most disappointing: from severe dry mouth to coma. To date, this tool has lost itsrelevance.
Folk remedies
Not only medicines can cope with such a nuisance as high blood pressure. Alternative treatment is a good help in reducing it, and many recipes are quite effective. These are all kinds of decoctions, tinctures, mixtures that you can prepare yourself. With the help of traditional medicine, high blood pressure can be reduced, while herbs occupy one of the first places. Here are some of the recipes based on them:
- Take 50-70 g of elecampane grass, 50-100 g of unpeeled oats and a tablespoon of honey. Boil oats in 3 liters of water, cool. Pour desyasila grass with cooled oatmeal water and bring to a boil. After the resulting broth has cooled, add honey. The remedy must be taken at 100 g two to three times a day for two weeks.
- Pour boiling water over two teaspoons of a mixture of birch and currant buds, let it brew for an hour, drink like tea twice a day.
- 2 tbsp. l. mixtures of equal volumes of immortelle grass, St. In the morning the infusion is ready. It should be taken before meals in the amount of 200 g for 50 days. You can repeat the course only after a year.
High blood pressure: how to lower it with berries? Many people know about the benefits of cranberries. This sour bright scarlet berry also came in handy in the fight against hypertension. To prepare delicioustherapeutic mixture will require 500 g of fresh cranberries and a glass of honey. Mix the ingredients and take 1 tbsp. l. every day to cleanse the blood vessels of cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. Course - 2 weeks.
It is difficult to find a hypertensive patient who has not heard of a healing recipe with lemon, garlic and honey. The ingredients are readily available and the cooking process is as easy as pie. Grind one lemon and 5 cloves of garlic, mix the mixture with half a glass of honey and leave for a week in a dark place at room temperature. After that, the medicine should be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Consume it three times a day for a teaspoon.
Diet
How to lower high blood pressure with diet? The nature of nutrition directly affects the state of the cardiovascular system. Overeating inevitably leads to the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels, obesity and various diseases. Compliance with a therapeutic diet helps to lower high blood pressure. Limit the intake of table s alt, animal fats, peas and beans, pastries and white bread, alcoholic beverages. Include sour-milk products, bran bread, linseed and olive oil, nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables in your daily menu. Especially useful are beets, currants, cranberries, chokeberries, as well as dried fruits. Replace sugar with honey, carbonated drinks with natural juices and compotes. Portions should be small, the best option is to stick tofractional supply.
