Hypertension is a persistent increase in blood pressure, the value of which is then 140/90 mm Hg or more. Hypertension usually does not cause symptoms for many years, and if blood pressure is not monitored regularly, it is detected when complications occur in various organs (e.g. heart, kidneys, brain). Treatment consists of lifestyle modifications – adequate physical activity and weight maintenance, as well as taking medications to lower blood pressure.

What is blood pressure?

The circulatory system (cardiovascular system) is a closed system in which the blood circulates in the blood vessels by the heart, which acts as a pump. This system can be compared to a network of pipes of different diameters made up of two types of blood vessels – arteries and veins. Arterial pressure is the pressure of the flowing blood stream against the walls of these vessels.

The heart of the circulatory system is the heart, which pumps blood to the aorta, the largest artery that branches into smaller arteries that supply blood to organs (including the brain, heart, and kidneys). The arteries that leave the aorta branch out into smaller and smaller arteries until they develop into a network of tiny arterioles called capillaries. These vessels can constrict and expand, thus regulating blood flow. From the capillaries of individual organs, the blood takes metabolic waste products that the body does not need and flows into the venous vessels, which then merge into larger and larger veins as it approaches the heart, until they form two main venous vessels – the superior and inferior vena cava, which go to the right atrium of the heart. Through the right atrium and ventricle, blood goes to the lungs, from where it is enriched with oxygen,

Blood pressure is highest during the contraction of the left ventricle, when blood is forced into the aorta and large arteries – this is the systolic pressure. The lowest value of blood pressure, in turn, is reached when the ventricle relaxes (the heart is then in a state of “rest” before contracting again) – this is the diastolic pressure.

Which blood pressure values ​​are considered normal?

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), and during the measurement two numbers are obtained, denoting systolic and diastolic pressure. For example: 140/90 mm Hg, which should be read “one hundred and forty ON ninety pounds of mercury”. The first number – always the greater number – defines the systolic pressure (the so-called upper pressure). The second number – always smaller – indicates the diastolic pressure (the so-called lower pressure).

According to the current classification of blood pressure, the normal blood pressure is 120–129 / 80–84 mm Hg.

There are also:

• high normal blood pressure – systolic blood pressure 130–139 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure 85–89 mm Hg
• optimal blood pressure – pressure values ​​lower than 120/80 mm Hg.

If the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values ​​fall into different categories, the higher category is used. People with high normal blood pressure are more likely to develop high blood pressure (especially when it is found in parents) than people with normal blood pressure.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is a disease characterized by high blood pressure, i.e. blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or more. This disease is diagnosed on the basis of multiple blood pressure measurements, usually performed at intervals of several days or several weeks.

Hypertension cannot be diagnosed on the basis of a single blood pressure measurement.

Most patients do not have a specific cause for the development of arterial hypertension. Its increased values ​​can be influenced by many factors:

• hereditary tendency
• obesity, especially the so-called abdominal obesity (increased abdominal circumference)
• high salt intake
• the aging process of the body
• mental stress
• lifestyle – people who engage in regular physical activity have lower blood pressure and a lower risk of cardiovascular complications than people who lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Depending on the cause of the increase in blood pressure, patients are divided into two groups:

1. in the vast majority of patients (over 90%) there is so-called primary hypertension, otherwise known as essential hypertension, which means that the cause of hypertension is complex and not yet fully understood – the involvement of genes, environment, diet, stress and lifestyle are indicated
2. in 5-10% of patients with arterial hypertension, the so-calledsecondary hypertension, also known as symptomatic. In these patients, elevated blood pressure is only a symptom of another disease, most often involving the kidneys, large arteries or dysfunction of the glands secreting substances regulating blood pressure (e.g. diseases of the thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands). Properly conducted tests allow to detect and eliminate the cause of the increase in blood pressure, and thus cure and obtain the correct blood pressure for a long time.

How common is hypertension?

Hypertension is a common disease in the general population of adult Poles <80. rż. It occurs in 32% of people (that is, about every third person). Men get sick more often.

How to recognize arterial hypertension?

The easiest way to detect the disease is the systematic measurement of blood pressure. It should be carried out once a year, even for people with normal blood pressure.

The finding of a single, random blood pressure measurement does not always indicate hypertension (see above), but should prompt the patient to take further measurements and see a physician for a proper blood pressure assessment.

A person diagnosed with arterial hypertension should obtain a pressure measuring device and learn (under the guidance of a doctor or a trained nurse) to measure blood pressure on their own. Self-measurement of blood pressure is very important, therefore the doctor recommends the patient to keep a diary of blood pressure measurements in case of suspected arterial hypertension. The technique of performing the pressure measurement is also important. In addition to home measurements, the doctor also measures blood pressure during the visit. In some cases, your doctor may order a 24-hour automatic blood pressure measurement (Holter).

Some people have the so-called the white coat effect, which is an increase in blood pressure during a measurement by a doctor or nurse. Therefore, it is very important to measure the pressure at home yourself and keep a diary as indicated by the doctor.

What are the risks of high blood pressure?

Hypertension generally does not cause symptoms for a long time (sometimes it can cause symptoms that are difficult for the patient to associate with hypertension, e.g.headache, sleep disturbances or easy fatigue), develops secretly and over the years leads to adverse changes in the heart ( e.g. a heart attack orheart failure), the brain (stroke) as well as in the blood vessels and kidneys. By damaging some organs, increased blood pressure disrupts their function, i.e. leads to the development of the so-called organ damage in arterial hypertension. The presence of complications (myocardial hypertrophy, deterioration of kidney function, development of atherosclerotic lesions) is assessed by performing additional tests.

Remember!

Undetected or untreated hypertension is especially dangerous.

What is the treatment of high blood pressure?

In the vast majority of patients, treatment involves the use of drugs that lower blood pressure. It is also recommended to modify the current lifestyle.

Lifestyle changes to make if you suffer from high blood pressure:

• lose weight and / or maintain proper body weight; the circumference of the abdomen (waist) must not exceed 80 cm (women) / 94 cm (men), BMI <25 kg / m²
• limit the consumption of table saltto <5 g per day (6 g = 1 teaspoon), do not add salt to food, avoid products preserved with sodium compounds
• change the diet– the Mediterranean diet and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet are the most beneficial – reduce the consumption of animal fats, eat more vegetables, fruits (rich in potassium) and fish
• quit smoking, avoid passive exposure to tobacco smoke
• limit alcohol consumptionto ≤14 units / week in men and <8 units / week in women (1 j. of alcohol equals 10 g [12.5 ml] of pure ethanol)
• increase your physical activity– walk, swim, start cycling, every day, systematically make a moderate-intensity effort for 30–45 minutes.

How to eat to prevent hypertension

1. Replace salt with other spices– e.g. pepper or spices. Remember that salt, as a cheap and widely available preservative, is added to most processed foods, including bread, cheese and cold cuts. Also, avoid salty fast food, as well as crisps, crisps, crackers, and salty sticks.
2. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, especially fresh and high in potassium (bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, peas, spinach).
3. Choose from poultrymeat types – boiled (not fried!) –or fish.
4. Eat coarse grain porridges and brown rice.
5. Give up dessert; alternatively, choose a fruit salad or skim milk pudding.
6. For breakfast and dinner,choose wholemealor crispbread, cornflakes, lean cheeses and yoghurts, and egg white.
7. Eat walnuts and almonds.
8. Drink low-fat milk, vegetable juices(but be careful with ready-made juices! – the purchased tomato juice contains twice as much salt than the recommended daily dose) andsugar-free tea.
9. You don’t need to completely eliminate coffee, you can safely consume 3-4 cups a day.

What is worth paying attention to during therapy with drugs that lower blood pressure?

1. There are many medications available to lower blood pressure. The choice of the preparation is made by the doctor who, when making a decision, is guided not only by the effectiveness of the drug and its tolerance, but also by your health condition, including the presence of other diseases.
2. It is worth remembering that other medications you are taking may affect the effect of medications that lower blood pressure.
3. You must never start treatment on your own, it must be decided by the doctor.
4. Any blood pressure-lowering drug can cause side effects – these are uncommon, generally harmless and slightly severe, but you should inform your doctor about them.
5. Drugs lowering blood pressure show their full effect only after a few or even several days of use. Take them regularly and do not stop taking them without consulting your doctor.
6. Remember that drugs do not eliminate the cause of hypertension, so they have to be taken for many years, and even – in the case of patients with primary hypertension, i.e. unrelated to other diseases – for life.
7. In general, two drugs are used to lower blood pressure (can be contained in one tablet).

Remember!

There is a good chance of getting a permanent reduction in blood pressure. The success of your treatment depends on taking your medications regularly, changing your lifestyle, and working closely with your doctor and scrupulously following his recommendations.