Symptoms of high blood pressure

When considering the main symptoms of high blood pressure, it should be remembered that during each working cycle of our blood pump (that is, with each contraction of the heart), its pressure is constantly changing: during contraction of the heart (systole), the blood pressure is maximum, and during relaxation (diastole), it is minimum.

Our arteries participate in this process not only as a "pipeline" for blood supply: their elastic walls reduce the degree of difference between systolic and diastolic pressure. In addition, due to the elasticity of the arterial walls, blood flow does not stop even when the heart muscle relaxes.

The description of poor health with the manifestation of symptoms of high blood pressure by the common phrase "blood pressure jumped" has become entrenched in the lexicon of 26% of our compatriots, since according to official data from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, there are 12 million citizens in our country who have been diagnosed with this pathology. And throughout the world, according to statistics from the World Health Organization, the cause of 13% of all deaths is arterial hypertension - high blood pressure.

There are 5-6 liters of blood circulating in our circulatory system. And the most significant indicator of its functioning is arterial pressure, that is, the pressure of blood on the walls of the arteries.

The norm for systolic pressure is considered to be 120 mm Hg, and for diastolic pressure - 80 mm Hg. And the norm for pulse pressure (that is, the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure) is 30-40 mm Hg.

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Age-related features of high blood pressure

For people of middle age, the first signs of high blood pressure are expressed in stable readings when measured - 120-140/80-90 mm Hg, and pressure exceeding 140/90 mm Hg is considered by doctors to be signs of obvious arterial hypertension (or hypertension).

There are three degrees of high blood pressure. At degree I, systolic blood pressure is 140-160 mm Hg, diastolic – 90-100 mm Hg. At degree II – 160-180/100-110 mm Hg. At degree III, systolic blood pressure rises to 180 mm Hg and higher, and diastolic blood pressure figures go off the charts over 110 mm Hg.

As experts note, symptoms of high blood pressure of the first degree may not have a clear clinical picture and are manifested by irregular and short-term increase in blood pressure, which quickly returns to normal. However, with quite satisfactory health, a person sometimes complains of heaviness in the head and pain in the back of the head, tinnitus, dizziness, bouts of nausea and sleep disorders.

Symptoms of stage II high blood pressure manifest themselves in the form of frequent intense headaches with nausea, dizziness and a feeling of "hot flashes" to the head, rapid fatigue and insomnia. And for stage III high blood pressure, the characteristic signs are all the symptoms listed above, plus deterioration of vision, shortness of breath, increased heart rate and swelling. That is, here it becomes clear which system of the body has become the main "target" of the pathological process of blood pressure deregulation - the heart, brain or kidneys. And then doctors diagnose one of the forms of arterial hypertension. If the patient has tachycardia, pain in the heart and shortness of breath, then it is the heart. If in the morning there are severe headaches (in the back of the head), dizziness and visual impairment, then it is the brain. And when a person with symptoms of high blood pressure, in addition to everything else, is haunted by thirst and urination disorders (dysuria), then the kidneys have been affected.

In addition, blood pressure can really "jump" - suddenly and sharply. In this case, the ambulance doctor (which you should definitely call!) will definitely diagnose a hypertensive crisis if there are such symptoms of high blood pressure: acute headache (in the back of the head or diffuse), nausea, vomiting, a veil or flickering "flies" before the eyes, visual impairment, rapid pulse, shortness of breath and pain behind the breastbone, loss of consciousness. And such a condition can cause a stroke (cerebral hemorrhage) or myocardial infarction.

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Symptoms of high blood pressure

Normally, the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure - pulse or cardiac pressure - is 40 mm Hg. Symptoms of high blood pressure in the form of shortness of breath, cardiac arrhythmia and swelling of the lower extremities, according to clinical practice, indicate serious problems with the cardiovascular system of the body, primarily in those over 50.

Since the pulse arterial pressure indicator gives an idea of the state of hemodynamics, its increase to 60 mm Hg can be caused by stenosis or insufficiency of the aortic valves, atherosclerosis (aortic stiffness), increased intracranial pressure, endocarditis, anemia, hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of high blood pressure in the elderly

It is estimated that at least 55-60% of elderly people aged 65 and over have symptoms of high blood pressure – either alone or in combination with other diseases.

High blood pressure levels manifest themselves in the same way as described above. But at this age, very often only systolic blood pressure is elevated, while the lower, i.e. diastolic, remains within the normal range (90 mm Hg) or lower. At the same time, an increase in pulse pressure is noted - the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Symptoms of elevated systolic pressure (or isolated systolic hypertension) are associated with age-related changes in the vascular system, which lead to sclerosis (loss of elasticity) of the aorta and large arteries. The clinical picture of this type of arterial hypertension is characterized by headache, noise and pulsation in the head, dizziness (especially when changing body position), frequent short-term loss of consciousness (fainting), sleep disorders, shortness of breath, pressing and squeezing pain in the heart, intermittent claudication (with atherosclerosis of the leg vessels). This type of elevated blood pressure is the main cause of strokes and acute heart failure.

Much less often, only diastolic blood pressure, which is formed by the walls of blood vessels, is elevated. If symptoms of elevated diastolic pressure appear - weakness, headaches, dizziness, general malaise - this indicates problems with the vessels. With elevated diastolic blood pressure on the walls of the vessels, blood flow to the heart is disrupted, which entails irreversible changes in the heart muscle - its overstrain and decreased contractile function. In addition, isolated elevated diastolic blood pressure can be a sign of kidney disease in a person.

Symptoms of high blood pressure in adolescents

The dependence of blood pressure on age is obvious: at birth, the systolic blood pressure of an infant is 70-75 mm Hg, by the age of one year it increases to 90 mm Hg. By the age of 9-10, the blood pressure of physically healthy children of normal height increases to 100/65 mm Hg, by the age of 12 - to 120/80 mm Hg. And for teenagers 14-16 years old (without deviations in physical development), blood pressure of 130/70 mm Hg is considered normal.

And the World Health Organization has proposed a single criterion for high blood pressure in adolescents aged 13 and over – a blood pressure level of 140/90 mm Hg.

Symptoms of high blood pressure in adolescents begin to appear mainly during puberty (puberty) – at 12-17 years of age. Increased blood pressure in adolescents is manifested by hyperhidrosis (increased sweating) and polyuria (increased urine output), attacks of tachycardia, tinnitus, dizziness, headaches and flushes, sleep problems are possible, as well as complaints of pain in the chest and epigastric region.

What to do if you have symptoms of high blood pressure?

What is usually done when obvious signs of the disease appear? Of course, see a doctor! In the case of symptoms of high blood pressure, a visit to the clinic is more than justified, since in addition to hypertension itself, blood pressure rises with congenital narrowing of the aorta, with many kidney and endocrine diseases, with adrenal pathology, brain tumors, and also under the influence of certain medications. By the way, what medications you need to take - beta-blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, slow calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers - can also only be determined by a doctor.

It is true that it is useful for everyone to know what to do with symptoms of high blood pressure. In particular, in the case of a hypertensive crisis, you need to do the following:

• under the tongue - a tablet of validol or nitroglycerin;
• restore breathing: deep breath - hold your breath - slowly exhale (do it lying down, repeat several times);
• put mustard plasters on the calves;
• Soak your feet or hands in hot water (no higher than +45°C) for 15 minutes.
• take 30 drops of alcohol tincture of valerian, motherwort or hawthorn.
• In case of headache, apply pharmacy menthol oil to your temples, forehead, behind the ears, and the back of your head; you can also take a pain-relieving medication to stop an attack of headache.

But in order to keep your blood pressure normal and not provoke the occurrence of various diseases, primarily coronary heart disease, you need to:

• get rid of extra pounds and thereby lower blood cholesterol levels;
• walk, ride a bike, swim in the pool or just do exercises in the morning;
• avoid fatty foods and reduce the amount of salt in your food;
• drink enough water – at least 1.5 liters, but minimize the consumption of alcoholic beverages (no more than 350 ml of beer, or 120 ml of wine, or 30 ml of something stronger per day);
• eat more vegetables and fruits to replenish your body with potassium;
• quit smoking.
• take pills for high blood pressure.

You might say: it's so simple! Indeed, it is simple. But then why don't millions of people with symptoms of high blood pressure do the simplest things for their own health?