A pathology of the cardiovascular system characterized by high blood pressure is called hypertension. This disease is treated by cardiologists, therapists, neurologists and nephrologists.
Hypertension or essential hypertension is a persistent increase in blood pressure. A temporary increase in blood pressure is observed in people during exercise, stress and other conditions to which the cardiovascular system adapts. A person suffering from hypertension experiences a constant increase in blood pressure. Doctors include headache, shortness of breath, chest pain and palpable throbbing in the temples as characteristic symptoms of the pathology. Without treatment, chronic hypertension can be complicated by diseases of the heart, kidneys, brain and other organs.
This disease is treated by: a cardiologist and a therapist
Blood pressure is caused by the movement of blood through vessels. At the moment of contraction of the heart, an increase in pressure occurs (systolic indicator), and at the moment of relaxation of the organ, a decrease in blood pressure occurs (diastolic indicator). Hypertension is one of the most common disorders of the cardiovascular system. This can be an independent pathology or a consequence of diseases of the kidneys, adrenal glands and other organs. Hypertension is diagnosed most often in men and women over the age of 65.
Symptoms of hypertension
Manifestations of hypertension depend on the degree of increase in blood pressure and the cause of the pathology. Changes in blood pressure can adversely affect any organ, but patients primarily experience disorders of the nervous system and kidneys. In people suffering from hypertension, an increase in pressure may occasionally occur, and the rest of the time the unpleasant symptoms disappear.
Symptoms and signs:
- Dizziness and headache;
- Pulsating sensation in different parts of the body, such as the back of the head and temples;
- Sensation of "fog in the head", decreased visual acuity;
- Tinnitus and audible heartbeat;
- Insomnia and tiredness;
- Loss of appetite and nausea;
- Compressive pain in the chest;
- Shortness of breath at rest and during light physical activity;
- Increased sweating;
- Facial redness;
- Swelling of the hands and face.
Other symptoms depend on the causes and complications of hypertension. These may be symptoms of brain dysfunction, vision disorders or pathology of another organ.
Causes of hypertension
Cardiologists distinguish between primary (essential) hypertension, which is detected in most cases, and secondary hypertension, which occurs as a complication of other diseases. Doctors consider obesity, chronic stress, unfavorable heredity, atherosclerosis, bad habits and poor nutrition as risk factors for the development of the disease. Increased blood pressure can occur due to vasoconstriction, dysregulation of the cardiovascular system, hormonal changes, and other factors.
Other reasons:
- Diseases of the kidneys and adrenal glands. The functions of these organs play an important role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system. Secondary hypertension can develop against the background of chronic pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, adrenal tumor and other pathologies;
- Thyroid diseases. This organ secretes the hormones necessary to regulate the functioning of the organism;
- Metabolic and blood diseases, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis;
- Chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases;
- Hereditary factors causing dysfunction of the cardiovascular system;
- Pathologies of the female reproductive system, complicated by hormonal imbalance.
Determining the cause of secondary hypertension is very important for treatment.
Get a consultation
If you experience these symptoms, we recommend making an appointment with your doctor. Timely consultation will avoid negative consequences for your health.
Why choose a professional clinic?
- Treatment is carried out in accordance with clinical guidelines
- Comprehensive assessment of the nature of the disease and the prognosis of treatment
- Modern diagnostic equipment and our laboratory
- High level of service and balanced pricing policy
Diagnosis of hypertension in a modern clinic
If symptoms of hypertension appear, you should make an appointment with a cardiologist. The doctor of the clinic questions the patient about complaints and studies the anamnestic data in detail to identify risk factors for the disease. Next, a primary examination is performed, including a general examination, listening (auscultation) to the heart, and measuring blood pressure using a tonometer. The cardiologist confirms the presence of the pathology through anamnesis, external signs and also through repeated detection of systolic pressure above 150 mm. rt. Art. and diastolic pressure above 95 mm. rt. Art. Subsequently, the doctor prescribes further studies to determine the cause and form of the disease.
Diagnostic methods used:
- Dynamic blood pressure measurement, which allows you to exclude situational (natural) hypertension. Your doctor takes blood pressure measurements in a quiet environment. Before this test you must refrain from physical activity, smoking, alcohol and taking certain medications. The cardiologist measures the pressure in both arms by placing the tonometer cuff 2. 5 cm above the elbow. For convenience, the patient can assume a lying or standing position. The study is carried out at intervals of 2-5 minutes to obtain different indicators and determine the average level of blood pressure;
- General and biochemical blood test. The cardiologist refers the patient to this study to identify the factors of hypertension. In the treatment room, the nurse treats the patient's antecubital fossa with an antiseptic, tightens the arm in the shoulder area with a tourniquet and draws blood with a syringe. In the laboratory, specialists determine the levels of lipids, creatinine, hormones, glucose and potassium in a blood sample. The ratio and quantity of blood cells are also determined;
- Urinalysis. The doctor explains to the patient how and at what time it is necessary to fill a sterile container with urine. Urinalysis in the laboratory allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of renal filtration and identify inflammatory diseases of the excretory system;
- Electrocardiography is a study of the electrical activity of the heart, which allows you to identify the causes and signs of the disease. During the procedure, the doctor asks the patient to lie on his back and attaches sensors (electrodes) to different parts of the body. Then the cardiogram is collected and deciphered;
- Ultrasound examination of the heart is the safest method of examining the heart, as it allows you to detect pathological changes in the organ, such as thickening of the walls of the left ventricle. The doctor asks the patient to lie on his back and presses the transducer against the skin to get an image of the heart on the monitor.
The modern and professional clinic has a laboratory that allows doctors to conduct modern research and quickly obtain reliable diagnostic results. If necessary, the cardiologist prescribes the patient a study of the brain, kidneys and other organs affected by hypertension.
Treatment of hypertension
When prescribing treatment, the clinic's cardiologist focuses on the diagnostic results and the patient's condition. An individual therapeutic regimen is prescribed, aimed at normalizing the activity of the cardiovascular system, eliminating the symptoms of hypertension and preventing dangerous complications. In addition to drug therapy, the cardiologist must prescribe a diet necessary to improve the functioning of blood vessels and kidneys. Compliance with the prescriptions of professional specialists helps to significantly improve the quality of life.
Treatment methods for hypertension:
- Prescription of thiazide diuretics. These are diuretics that stimulate the kidneys to remove more fluid from the body. The doctor prescribes these drugs to eliminate swelling and normalize blood pressure;
- Prescription of ACE inhibitors. These drugs are used to suppress vasoconstrictors and reduce blood pressure. Additionally, these drugs are prescribed to treat the underlying cause of high blood pressure associated with kidney disease;
- Use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists. The cardiologist prescribes these drugs to suppress the activity of factors that constrict blood vessels;
- Use of calcium channel blockers. These drugs relax the muscles of the vascular walls and reduce the heart rate, thereby reducing blood pressure;
- Use of alpha and beta blockers. If necessary, the cardiologist prescribes drugs from these groups to reduce heart rate, relieve the load on the heart and dilate blood vessels;
- Use of aldosterone antagonists. The main effect of these drugs is the improvement of renal function, which is manifested by an increase in the secretion of liquids and salts. Thanks to this effect, a decrease in blood pressure is achieved;
- Prescription of additional drug therapies, including renin inhibitors, lipid-lowering drugs, sedatives and vasodilators.
When prescribing an individual treatment regimen, the cardiologist of the clinic takes into account modern standards for the treatment of hypertension. To monitor the treatment, the doctor regularly prescribes laboratory and instrumental tests. Endocrinologists, nutritionists and other doctors, if necessary, prescribe additional methods of treating hypertension.
Prevention of hypertension
The development of dangerous cardiovascular diseases can be prevented through lifestyle changes and other preventive measures.
Prevention methods:
- Improve your diet, avoiding fatty, too salty and fried foods;
- Quit alcohol and cigarettes;
- Reduce body weight and carry out regular physical activity;
- Timely treatment of diseases of the kidneys and endocrine organs.
A consultation with a cardiologist will help you choose an individual prevention regimen and undergo tests to detect risk factors for hypertension.