Hypertensive crisis is fraught with many serious dangers and serious consequences for the whole organism. Complications of a hypertensive crisis can affect a variety of organs.
How to determine the complications of this pathology? How to provide emergency care when primary or secondary signs are detected? And what is the best way to choose a method of treating complications of a hypertensive crisis? Let's find out.
At the beginning, let's try to briefly understand what a hypertensive crisis is, how it is provoked and how to avoid it.
Hypertensive crisis
Hypertensive crisis is a sharp increase in blood pressure, characterized by the severity of the patient's condition and affecting many internal organs. The cause of this disease is the pathology of the cardiovascular system and chroniclack of blood supply.
Causes of hypertension
The reason for the occurrence of a hypertensive crisis can be a stressful situation and intense physical activity, which provoke a heartbeat and increased pressure.
Usually, a hypertensive crisis occurs against the background of chronic hypertension, when a sick person irregularly takes drugs to reduce pressure, changes their dosage himself, or abuses coffee, alcohol and s alt.
What can cause hypertension?
- Tranio-cerebral injuries.
- Chronic diseases (aortic atherosclerosis, diabetes, lupus, periarteritis nodosa, kidney disease).
Of course, the crisis does not always arise because of the above reasons. Often, stress or hypothermia, high physical activity or the use of hormonal drugs, sudden changes in weather or hormonal failure contribute to it.
According to observations, the hypertensive crisis affects mainly the elderly, especially the stronger sex over the age of fifty-five.
Symptoms of hypertensive crisis
It is generally accepted that the main criterion for recognizing a disease is a sharp jump in pressure to 200 and above. However, this is not always the correct indicator.
There are different signs of a critical condition for different people. It all depends on the working pressure of the patient. For example, if a person feels great at 90/60, then 140/90 would bebe considered critical for him, which will mean the beginning of a hypertensive crisis.
Conversely, if the patient is feeling well at 140/90 pressure, then increasing the readings to 160/110 and even to 170/120 will not cause negative consequences for him.
Therefore, the combination of symptoms plays a decisive role in determining the hypertensive crisis. These could be:
- headache and dizziness;
- nausea and weakness;
- feeling of panic and fear;
- weakness of vision;
- heart pain and tachycardia;
- sweating or chills;
- convulsions and limited movement;
- shortness of breath and partial loss of consciousness.
Not necessarily all of these symptoms will be present during a hypertensive crisis. How then to diagnose this condition?
Definition of hypertensive crisis
For this, first of all, it is necessary to measure the pressure regularly, every fifteen minutes. If high pressure is maintained for a long time (the indicators are taken into account in accordance with the patient's working pressure), then the patient is experiencing a hypertensive crisis.
In addition, checking the pulse, measuring body temperature, listening to the heart and lungs, and conducting a cardiogram will be considered important diagnostic measures.
Yes, hypertensive crisis is a very dangerous condition. But no less dangerous are the complications of a hypertensive crisis. According to statistics, more than fortypercent of patients who were diagnosed with a hypertensive crisis died from its consequences over the next three years.
It is noteworthy that the types of hypertensive crisis are determined according to its complications. Let's talk about this in more detail.
Possible complications of the disease
Complications of hypertensive crisis are:
- Cerebral infarction. The most common complication of a crisis, occurs predominantly in 24% of patients.
- Pulmonary edema. Occurs in 22% of patients.
- Edema of the brain. It is noted in 17% of cases.
- Acute left ventricular failure. Occurs in 14% of patients.
- Myocardial infarction. Occurs in 12% of patients.
- Eclampsia. It is observed in 4.6% of cases.
Possible complications of a hypertensive crisis include:
- hemorrhages of various forms;
- angina pectoris;
- acute renal failure;
- hemiparesis;
- an acute form of retinopathy;
- encephalopathy;
- stroke;
-com;
- fatal outcome.
Let's discuss this in more detail.
Common complications
Serious complications after a hypertensive crisis often relate to the human brain. For example, cerebral infarction, or ischemic stroke. This is an acute circulatory disorder as a result of blockage of the arteries of the brain. Or cerebral edema, in which the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid is disturbed, and due to an increase in its volume, pressure on the tissues increases.
What are other common complications of a hypertensive crisis? Pulmonary edema is another severe pathological consequence of this disease. It is characterized by a violation of the amount and outflow of intercellular fluid, as well as its abundant accumulation in the lungs.
What negative effect does a hypertensive crisis have on the human heart? Complications in hypertension can cause such dangerous and severe pathologies as heart failure and myocardial infarction. The first of them is due to a violation of the coronary blood flow, during which the blood, without entering the aorta, stagnates in the left ventricle, and the right one is filled to unacceptable limits.
Myocardial infarction is accompanied by necrosis of this area due to insufficient blood supply.
Eclampsia, which develops suddenly, is no less common and dangerous complication of a hypertensive crisis. It occurs during pregnancy or childbirth, and is caused by extremely high blood pressure, so that there is a threat to the life of both mother and child.
Other complications
Possible complications of a hypertensive crisis include hemorrhage under the arachnoid membrane of the brain and intracerebral hemorrhage. The first type of complication is the result of cerebrovascular accident, during which blood accumulates under the thin arachnoid membrane of the brain.
Intracerebral hemorrhage is caused by rupture of the walls of cerebral vessels and the ingress of blood into the substancebrain.
Also complications of hypertensive crisis are encephalopathy and hemiparesis. Encephalopathy is a non-inflammatory disease of the brain, in which dystrophic changes occur in the brain tissue, which disrupts its functionality. Hemiparesis is accompanied by damage to the neurons of the brain and is a partial paralysis of the muscles.
What other fatal ailments does a hypertensive crisis entail? Complications on the kidneys cause a deterioration in blood circulation due to a hypertensive crisis. This condition adversely affects the filtration process. Blood clots form in the capillaries and urination partially or completely stops. The body suffers from intoxication, which increases the likelihood of inflammation of other organs.
In addition, acute renal failure can be a consequence of the crisis, which also leads to disruption of the filtration and reabsorption process. Violated water, nitrogen, electrolyte and other types of metabolism.
Does a hypertensive crisis provoke eye complications? Yes, because acute hypertension can result in complex and unpleasant diseases such as retinopathy and amaurosis.
Retinopathy is an inflammatory process in the retina that causes circulatory disorders in it, which can lead to retinal dystrophy and even blindness. Amaurosis is also a serious lesion of the retina, as well as the optic nerve, which can cause partial or absoluteblindness.
As you can see, the complications of a hypertensive crisis affect very important organs of the human body, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and eyes. They can lead to severe chronic ailments or irreparable fatal consequences.
However, hypertension should not be blamed for all complex incurable diseases. It should be remembered that the complications of a hypertensive crisis do not include heart, kidney and other diseases provoked by inflammatory processes, since these types of ailments are the result of infectious and viral pathologies.
So, we found out what a hypertensive crisis and its complications are. The conclusion from all of the above is this: the methods of treating a hypertensive crisis depend on the type of its complications.
Hypertensive crisis: complications and treatment
Since a hypertensive crisis can negatively affect various organs of the human body, treatment should be started in accordance with which organs were affected and the severity of this lesion.
In these cases, pressure reduction is not a priority and priority measure. However, in order for the treatment to have a quick effect, one should still try to bring down the blood pressure by at least twenty units.
How are complications of hypertensive crisis treated? First of all, this is done inpatient, not outpatient. Remember, only in a medical facility you will be under constant control and supervision. And only there you will be provided with effective and efficient treatment.
First of all, it can be intravenous infusions of nitroglycerin or sodium nitroprusside, which will need to be immediately canceled as soon as blood pressure returns to normal. The action of these drugs begins in three to five minutes, but their introduction into the body may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, convulsions and tachycardia, and other adverse reactions. In addition, it should be remembered that these injections are prescribed at a high risk of encephalopathy, acute left ventricular failure, aortic dissection. However, they are not prescribed for kidney or liver failure, glaucoma, and other specific conditions.
Other medicines for hypertensive crisis can be beta-blockers, which not only lower blood pressure, but also slow down the heartbeat. These drugs are prescribed for acute myocardial ischemia and aortic dissection, but should not be taken by those with a history of acute heart failure, bronchial asthma, and sinus node weakness.
The next group of drugs - alpha-blockers - are used only with high levels of catecholamines.
In case of complications of a hypertensive crisis, "Methyldopa" and magnesium sulfate are prescribed for the brain. The first medicine has a positive effect on the basic mechanisms of the brain. It can also be used for hypertensive attacks in pregnant women. However, it should be remembered that contraindications to the use of this drug arepheochromocytoma, heart attack, cerebrovascular disease, etc.
Magnesium sulfate is prescribed for the threat of cerebral edema and convulsions. It should be administered very slowly so as not to cause lung spasms and asthma attacks. The drug begins to act twenty minutes after injection and provides an effect for six hours.
Another drug for hypertensive crisis can be hydralazine, which is used in eclampsia, to dilate arterial vessels. The drug begins to act ten minutes after administration and has a fairly long-lasting effect.
Enalaprilat is a very effective remedy for encephalopathy, heart failure, coronary syndromes. Since the medicine begins to act almost instantly, it should be administered extremely slowly and carefully.
These medications mentioned above are specialized pharmacological agents that should only be used as directed by your doctor.
Therapeutic Methods
However, in addition to injections and pills, the doctor may prescribe therapeutic treatment. First of all, it is an opportunity for the patient to relax and unwind, whether it be sleep, nap or massage. You should also avoid any stress and worries, no matter how emotional they are saturated.
In addition to peace and quiet, the patient will need a special diet, following which it will be necessary to avoid foods that put extra stress on the heart muscle. S alt and spices should be completely abandoned,eat small meals and only lean, low-fat foods.
In addition, the body will need to be nourished with useful trace elements and vitamins, for which medications or vitamin-rich foods (vegetables and fruits) can be prescribed.
First Aid Emergency
Now let's talk briefly about what needs to be done when complications of a hypertensive crisis occur. Emergency assistance to the patient is to provide him with peace and fresh air, to calm and assure the imminent arrival of qualified assistance.
As a sedative, you can use any available medicines - valerian, corvalol, motherwort. You also need to ensure that the patient's breathing is evened out, for this you can help him take off his clothes and ventilate the room.
Which is the best position to take? The patient should be placed in a semi-sitting position. If he feels cold, you need to try to warm him up. However, you should still put a cold compress on your forehead.
In acute cases, call an ambulance. You can also take special medications to lower your blood pressure.
However, the main principle here is: do no harm! Therefore, if you decide to help the patient lower the pressure, this must be done slowly and carefully, preferably with drugs already known to him or you.
Often the sick person himself has the knowledge of how to block an attack. Usually he always has medicines with him,which can be taken if necessary. The help of an outsider can also be useful here. You may need to bring water to swallow the capsule. Or you will need to make an intramuscular injection.
Be that as it may, helping a sick person is a very noble and worthy act. Call an ambulance, help you recover, just be around - such selfless acts of kindness will save the life of another and will certainly be rewarded.
