Age-related features of different periods of a person's life, external and internal causes, changes in hormonal levels, bad habits, as well as psycho-emotional factors can affect changes in blood pressure and lead to its increase. Not always on time people go to the doctor, so hypertension takes a permanent form. The article will tell about the symptoms of hypertension, as well as its differences with hypotension.
First manifestations
High blood pressure is characterized by morphological changes in the blood vessels that affect the general well-being of a person. To understand whether a person has hypertension, and what symptoms are characteristic of this pathology, you need to know the simplest self-diagnosis methods that will help you respond correctly to a jump in indicators and prevent complications.
Hypertension is one of the most common diseases. Hypertension occurs in every third person, and is characterized by high mortality rates in severe stages. Only complex treatment that combines medications and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be successful.
Hypertension is characterized by a gradual, long, sluggish course, and is initially characterized by the absence of severe symptoms. At high pressure, the presence of the disease can be indicated by periodically appearing symptoms, which include:
- pain in the occipital or temporal region;
- dizziness;
- hearing loss, ringing in the ears;
- blurred vision;
- tachycardia and chest pain;
- nausea and gag reflex;
- feeling short of breath;
- anxiety;
- irritability;
- sweating or chills;
- recurring nosebleeds.
The presence in a person of at least one of the above symptoms of hypertension, which may be the first, is a reason to visit a family doctor or therapist for diagnostic and preventive purposes, since the disease in an advanced, untreated state can lead to such formidable complications as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.
Characteristics of symptoms
Arterial hypertension always goes away with a headache in the back of the head or temples, which, at the beginning of the development of the pathology, is well stopped by analgesic drugs. Its occurrence is associated with a change in the lumen of the cerebral vessels in the direction of narrowing. People who experience high blood pressure headaches describe it as dull or cramp-like in the back of the head, and sharp, stabbing, throbbing in the temporal region.
Tinnitus and hearing impairment in hypertension can be caused by a malfunction of the vessels of the hearing aid.
Important! The sudden onset of pain in the head is a direct indication for measuring pressure.
Deterioration of vision in hypertension in the form of doubling, flashing dots (flies) in front of the eyes is associated with a lack of blood supply in the retina and impaired functioning of the optic nerves.
Nausea and gag reflex occur as a reaction to the onset of headache and dizziness, and the manifestation of frequent heartbeat and pain behind the sternum is caused by a disorder in the work of the vessels of the pulmonary circulation. The feeling of lack of air (shortness of breath) characterizes high blood pressure, and more often occurs in patients with obesity at any age.
The frequent occurrence of symptoms of high blood pressure can cause a state of hypertension. And then, hyperemia of the skin on the face, anxiety, heart pain will join the above signs of pathology. This condition will not go away on its own, and will require emergency therapies.
Important! Periodically appearing symptoms of high blood pressure will prompt the patient to consult a doctor and begin treatment. The asymptomatic course of the disease steals precious time from a person.
Tonometer indicators
To understand whether there is an increase in pressure, it is necessary to periodically measure indicators with a tonometer under different conditions (well-being, poor), and also know their norms.
The standard values are considered to be 120/80 mm Hg. Art. A range of 10 units from these figures is not a deviation. Signs of an increase greater than 140/90 mm Hg. Art. , in combination with headache, feeling of nausea, heart pains are considered as symptoms of arterial hypertension.
Important! Pressure in a person is always individual, it depends on the body and external causes. "Working" tone - these are the numbers of blood pressure at which the patient feels good. Hypertensive patients know their normal values, and control them by timely taking antihypertensive drugs selected by the attending physician.
Characteristics of the degrees of pathology
Signs of high blood pressure directly depend on the degree of height of the indicators, of which there are 3 in hypertension. They can be presented in the form of tables:
| Degrees of hypertension | Systolic index (mm Hg) | Diastolic numbers (mm Hg) | The main symptoms of hypertension |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 degree | 140-160 | 90-100 | They pass without a clear clinic, are characterized by periodic rises, quickly normalize. Rarely, dizziness, insomnia, heaviness in the head, with localization in the back of the head, are noted. |
| 2 degree | 160-180 | 100-110 | Pain in the occipital or temporal region is strongly pronounced, accompanied by nausea, dizziness, weakness, insomnia. |
| 3 degree | up to 182 and above | over 110 | Unbearable headache (especially in the morning), nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, visual disturbances, shortness of breath, sweating, tachycardia, swelling of the lower extremities, thirst, urinary disorders. |
The clinic of hypertension in the initial stages may be mild. A person for a long time may not even be aware of increased pressure and processes developing in the vessels. Early and first signs of hypertension are irritability for no apparent reason and increased fatigue.
Symptoms of high blood pressure in hypertension 2 and 3 degrees with systolic readings over 160 mm. lead to a hypertensive crisis, which is characterized by a pronounced pain in the head of a diverse nature, a feeling of nausea, vomiting, blurred vision (fog, veil) or flashing of small dots, as well as: trembling in the limbs, rapid pulse, feeling short of breath, heart pain, arrhythmia, loss of consciousness.
What is arterial hypertension - all hypertensive patients know. It is useful to know how you can help yourself or a loved one before the arrival of an ambulance, when an emergency occurs for the first time:
- Place 1 tablet of validol or nitroglycerin under the tongue.
- Organize air access, unfasten tight clothes and give the patient an elevated position in bed (raise on pillows).
- Put mustard plasters on the calf muscles.
- Give inside 30 drops (1 tablespoon) of an alcohol solution of valerian, motherwort.
- Take any analgesic for pain in the head, and lubricate the whiskey, forehead, neck area and behind the ears with menthol oil.
- You can soak your feet in hot water for 15 minutes.
In addition, doctors recommend doing a simple exercise to restore breathing. To do this, it is recommended to take a deep breath, hold your breath, and then exhale very slowly. This should be done 3 to 5 times. The position of the body in this case should be reclining.
Important! With untimely assistance to a patient with a hypertensive crisis, he may develop a cerebral stroke or myocardial infarction. Since grades 2 and 3 cannot be cured, the patient must keep the increase in pressure under constant control.
Age features
An increase in pressure in people over 50 is often associated with incipient problems in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, atherosclerosis, anemia, hyperthyroidism, and impaired kidney function. There may be shortness of breath, pronounced swelling in the legs, cardiac arrhythmia. Compared to men, women get sick more often.
Symptoms of high blood pressure are always due to age-related changes in the vessels, causing a loss of their elasticity. In addition to the typical clinical characteristics of high blood pressure, it is possible to add intermittent claudication, frequent fainting, dizziness when changing body position, noises in the head, and a compressive pain symptom behind the sternum. There are also general malaise, decreased performance and weakness.
Since the growth of indicators can occur in people of different ages, the symptoms of hypertension in adolescents can manifest themselves from the age of 12 (during puberty) and continue until 17. This is due to the restructuring of the body and changes in hormonal metabolism. Characteristic signs that a teenager has increased blood pressure are increased sweating, attacks of a strong heartbeat, the presence of tinnitus, dizziness, headaches at any time of the day, insomnia, hot flushes to the skin of the face, discomfort in the epigastric region.
Important! To make sure that a possible pathology of the vessels takes place in this particular case, it is necessary to measure the pressure in a person several times in a row, preferably every 15 minutes. These indicators should be recorded and be sure to report them to the doctor in order to prescribe adequate treatment. Which drugs to take - the doctor will decide.
If you find several symptoms accompanied by an increase in blood pressure, you need to consult a doctor, be examined and identify the true cause of such a pathology: neoplasms, kidney, endocrine, vascular diseases. The therapist, neuropathologist and family doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment based on the diagnostic data, the functional characteristics of the body, the age group, concomitant diseases and the tendency to allergies.
With hypertension, adrenoblockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, slow calcium channel blockers are prescribed.
Apply physiotherapy - electrosleep; magnetotherapy; UHF therapy; infrared laser therapy, as well as traditional medicine. Patients with hypertension are advised to follow a diet and consume enough fruits and vegetables.
Important! Preventive measures to prevent vascular pathology and the development of hypertension include timely visits to medical examinations, the normalization of work and rest, moderation in food, the fight against excess weight, the prevention of stressful situations, the use of sufficient amounts of water, vegetables, fruits, as well as the elimination of dependence onnicotine and alcohol (if any).
Differences between high and low pressure
Along with signs of hypertension, in which the rate may increase, there are manifestations of low blood pressure, called hypotension.
Periodic decrease in pressure is characterized by indicators below 101/66 mm Hg. Art. It all depends on the age group, so the numbers may vary.
Despite the fact that the presence of an unbearable paroxysmal headache occurs both with hypotension and hypertension, with a decrease in pressure, the following symptoms will be present that distinguish high pressure from low:
- Poor health and weakness. From the very morning the patient feels weakness and malaise.
- Cold extremities. Hands and feet are constantly cold.
- Noise in the ears (periodic presence).
- Unpleasant sensations in the region of the heart, tachycardia. Each patient has their own feelings.
- Dizziness and frequent darkening (sometimes double vision) in the eyes. Such symptoms are characteristic not only in the morning, but also during the day.
- Drowsiness during the day, sleep disturbance at night. During the day, patients always feel the need for sleep. The peak of activity begins in the evening. The night passes restlessly, sleep is shallow.
- Digestive problems. Hypotensive patients often have gastritis, liver problems, constipation, dyspepsia, and dysbacteriosis.
The above characteristic symptoms are most often found in young people, most of whom are women. The reason for lowering blood pressure is stress, lack of sleep, poor lifestyle, lack of vitamins, the use of strict diets, hormonal disruptions, strong physical and mental stress, the presence of some somatic diseases (endocrine, cervical osteochondrosis, liver, kidneys, VVD, sedentary lifestyle). Prolonged depression can be a major cause of low blood pressure.
The first "bells" about the beginning of the development of hypotension occur when in the morning a person gets out of bed heavily, feels overwhelmed, irritated and not getting enough sleep. After some time (everyone is purely individual), a headache appears, which may not go away until lunch.
Here, common symptoms with hypertension are the appearance of nausea, vomiting, meteorological dependence and fainting, a long asymptomatic course. You can increase low blood pressure by taking special medications, diet therapy, herbal medicine and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Therapy
Medicines that increase blood pressure include tinctures of Eleutherococcus or Ginseng, special medicines. Caffeine has the same effect.
Phytotherapy involves taking decoctions and infusions of herbs from plants such as St.
For hypotensive patients, it is acceptable to take small doses of alcohol. A glass of red wine or 25 g of cognac for a week will benefit the body: it will expand blood vessels and improve blood circulation. A cup of coffee in the morning will bring a good mood.
Hypotensive patients should sleep enough to feel alert (more than 8 hours a day), move enough, eat a balanced diet, and also engage in moderate sports (morning exercises, swimming, aerobics, yoga, outdoor games), do douching with a contrast shower, alternating them with massage.
Important! Untreated hypotension after 40 years can turn into hypertension.
Any person is advised to carefully monitor their blood pressure levels. It is necessary to use the tonometer in a calm state, with good and bad health, after sleep and before night. It is desirable to record all indicators, compare and determine "your" pressure, at which the best working capacity and vital activity are noted.
If the increased numbers persist for a long time, you should definitely consult a doctor to protect yourself from fatal complications in the future. Be healthy!