Almost everyone has experienced elevated blood pressure at least once in their lives and knows how troublesome high blood pressure can be.However, high blood pressure is not as harmless as it may seem at first glance.
Severe fluctuations in stress can have negative effects on the body, and chronic illnesses, if left untreated, can lead to even the most catastrophic consequences.Today we’ll discuss how the various stages of hypertension differ and the risks they pose.
stage of headache
first stage
Stage 1 hypertension has blood pressure not exceeding 159/99 mm.Mercury Art.Blood pressure may remain elevated for several days.Even ordinary rest and elimination of stressful situations can significantly help lower its indicators.In more severe stages, it is no longer possible to normalize blood pressure so easily.
This stage of the development of hypertension is characterized by the absence of any signs of target organs being affected by hypertension, and therefore, in many cases, the course of the disease is virtually asymptomatic.Sleep disturbance, head or heart pain occur only occasionally.Clinical examination may reveal a slight increase in tone at the base of the artery.
Type 1 hypertensive crises are very rare and occur mainly under the influence of external circumstances, such as weather or severe stress.This also often occurs in women during menopause.The disease is in its initial stages, so treatment is strong and lifestyle changes are usually enough; medications may not be needed.By starting treatment promptly and conscientiously implementing every recommendation, the prognosis is very favorable.
second stage
Stage 2 hypertension has pressure levels up to 179 mm.Mercury Art.(diastolic pressure) maximum 109 mm.Mercury Art.(systolic blood pressure).Rest no longer normalizes blood pressure.Patients often experience pain, shortness of breath on exertion, poor sleep, dizziness, and angina.
This group is characterized by the appearance of the first signs of internal organs.Often, this form of damage has virtually no effect on its functionality.There are no obvious subjective symptoms bothering the patients.Most often, in the second stage of the development of hypertension, the following conditions are detected:
- Characteristic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy;
- Increased creatine levels in the blood;
- narrowing of retinal arteries;
- Protein is found in urine.
Hypertensive crisis is not uncommon in stage 2 hypertension, which carries the threat of very serious complications, including stroke.In this case, treatment will not be possible without continued medication.
The third stage
The end stage of hypertension has the most severe disease course and the most widespread disturbance in the function of the entire target organ.The kidneys, eyes, brain, blood vessels and heart are most affected.Blood pressure is persistent and it is difficult to normalize its levels even with medication.It is not uncommon for blood pressure to rise to 180/110 mm.Mercury Art.and higher.
The symptoms of the third stage of the disease are in many ways similar to those listed above, but are also accompanied by rather dangerous signs of the affected organs (such as kidney failure).Memory often deteriorates, severe cardiac arrhythmias occur, and vision deteriorates.
The most dangerous thing is that high blood pressure always affects the heart.Muscle contractility and conductivity are almost always impaired.Clinical studies have also revealed numerous diseases of other organs.
There are not only stages 1, 2, and 3 of hypertension, but also degrees 1, 2, and 3, which we will talk about later.
degree
I save
The first level of severity is the mildest, in which periodic surges in blood pressure are observed.Another feature is that the pressure level stabilizes on its own.The most common cause of stage one headaches is ongoing stress.
Level 2
The characteristic of moderate hypertension is not only that blood pressure cannot be stabilized independently, but also that the time for normal blood pressure is very short.The main symptom is severe headache.
If the condition develops quickly, it can be said to be a malignant course of hypertension.This form is very dangerous because the disease progresses rapidly.
Level three
The blood pressure of patients with grade 3 hypertension always remains in a stable elevated state.If blood pressure drops, a person suffers from weakness and many other symptoms of internal organs.The changes that occur at this stage of the disease are already irreversible.
In addition, in addition to 1, 2, 3 degrees and stages, the classification of hypertension also includes 1, 2, 3, and 4 risks, which we will talk about later.
risk
low, insignificant
Women younger than 65 and men younger than 55 who develop stage 1 "mild" arterial hypertension are at the lowest risk of complications.Over the next 10 years, only about 15 percent of people will develop vascular or cardiac lesions from the disease.Such patients are usually treated by general practitioners, since serious treatment by a cardiologist is pointless.
If a mild risk remains, the patient will need to try significant lifestyle changes in the near future (no more than 6 months).If the test is positive, he can be observed by doctors for another period of time.If this treatment is not effective and fails to lower blood pressure, your doctor may recommend a change in treatment strategy, which will require prescribing medication.However, doctors usually insist on a healthy lifestyle because this treatment does not have any negative consequences.
medium
This group included patients with type 2 and type 1 hypertension.Their blood pressure usually does not exceed 179/110 mm.Mercury Art.Such patients may have 1-2 risk factors:
- genetics,
- smoking,
- obesity,
- Less physical activity,
- high cholesterol,
- Impaired glucose tolerance.
After 10 years of observation, cardiovascular pathology may develop in 20% of cases.Changes in normal lifestyle must be included in the list of treatment measures.Medications may not be prescribed for 3-6 months, giving the patient a chance to normalize the condition through life changes.
high
Patients with type 1 and type 2 hypertension should also be included in the high-risk group, as they are more likely to develop complications if they already have several of the predisposing factors mentioned above.They also include any damage to target organs, diabetes, retinal vascular changes, high creatinine levels and atherosclerosis.
There may be no risk factors, but patients with stage 3 arterial hypertension also fall into this group.Since high blood pressure is mostly long-term, cardiologists have looked at all of these conditions.The probability of complications reaches 30%.Lifestyle changes can be an adjunct strategy, but the main part of treatment is medication.The choice of drug must be made within a short period of time.
Next we'll discuss a serious diagnosis: stage 3 hypertension, risk 4.
very high
Patients at greatest risk for complications of cardiac and vascular function are a group of patients with stage 3 hypertension or stages 1 and 2 (if the latter has any target organ disease).This group is one of the smallest.The main treatment takes place in the hospital.Medical treatment is aggressive and usually includes several groups of medications.
The probability of complications exceeds 30%.