Arterial hypertension, its classification and types

Heart and vascular diseases occupy the first place in the structure of mortality of the population. The most common diagnosis - arterial hypertension - is put in almost half the cases to patients older than fifty years. At the same time, there are many forms of hypertension combined by extensive classification. About this, as well as what are the risk factors for the development of the disease and what kinds of hypertension are there, it will be discussed below.

What is it and what is dangerous to increase blood pressure?

Hypertension is the arterial state when the blood pressure( BP) rises above 140/90 mm.gt;Art. At the heart of its development lies an increase in resistance to blood flow in the system of blood vessels of the great circle of blood circulation. The violation of the ratio between the magnitude of cardiac output and peripheral resistance is what characterizes the syndrome of hypertension.

Usually this disease develops slowly, for ten or more years. In this case, violations from the internal organs occur gradually."Silent killer" - this is sometimes called hypertension. In the absence of treatment, the following complications develop.

1. Damage of blood vessels. As a result of increased pressure, the walls of the vessels stretch or, conversely, become coarse, unyielding. Because of this, blood circulation in the extremities, the brain, the nutrition of internal organs, the atherosclerosis develops.
2. Premature wear of the heart. The main organ of the human body begins to work in a strengthened mode, trying to accelerate the delivery of oxygen to the tissues. In the compensation stage, the heart copes with this task, but in the absence of adequate treatment it gradually gives up its positions.
3. Increased risk of stroke. As a result of atherosclerosis, the vessels of the brain narrow, the food is damaged and, as a consequence, normal work. Due to the fact that the arteries do not withstand high blood pressure, hemorrhage occurs at some point.
4. Renal failure. The kidneys also begin to work in a strengthened mode, but because of the atherosclerosis of small vessels, a smaller amount of blood is filtered. Gradually damaged and structural elements of these organs, resulting in the development of uremia.
5. Retinopathy. Sensitive vessels of the retina also can not withstand increased pressure. As a result, the nutrition of the delicate tissues is disturbed, which leads eventually to blindness.
6. Ultimately, hypertension in the absence of adequate treatment leads to death.
7. Risk factors for hypertension.
8. In most cases, hypertension develops primarily. Despite numerous studies of this phenomenon, the exact cause of the increase in blood pressure in this case has not been established. However, the following risk factors for arterial hypertension are identified.
9. Alcohol abuse. Ethyl alcohol leads to sharp increases in blood pressure. Alcohol in large quantities is life-threatening!
10. Abuse of salty foods. Since sodium is able to hold water, the amount of fluid in the bloodstream increases, which leads to hypertension
11. Obesity - the risk of developing the disease rises 5 times, so nutrition with hypertension requires special attention
12. Smoking - nicotine causes vasospasm, resulting in increased peripheral resistance, leading to an increase in blood pressure
13. Hypodinamy - sedentary lifestyle leads to obesity and congestion in the bloodstream
14. Chronic arrowc - a constant release of adrenaline leads to a narrowing of the vessels, as well as to an excessive load on the heart.
15. Taking medications - oral contraceptives, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, erythropoietin, use of nasal sprays and other drugs.
16. Heredity - the probability of hypertension increases if the family has already beencases of the disease
17. Sex, age. In men, hypertension is more common at a young age( due to lifestyle characteristics), and in women - in the post-menopausal period due to hormonal changes
18. Diseases of internal organs.kidney disease, adrenal gland tumors, arterial pathology, metabolic syndrome, thyroid diseases
19. Pregnancy

Classification of hypertension

According to WHO, there is a classification of arterial hypertension according to the level of arterial pressure, measured in mm.gt;Art.

1. Optimal pressure - 120/80
2. Normal pressure - 130/85
3. High normal pressure - 130-139 / 85-89
4. 1 degree( soft) of hypertension - pressure 140-159 / 90-99
5. Boundary degree - pressure 140-149/ 90-94
6. 2 degree( moderate) - pressure 160-179 / 100-109
7. 3 degree( expressed) - pressure 180/110
8. Isolated systolic hypertension - pressure 140/90

There are other types of arterial hypertension. The basis for the next division is the cause of the increase in blood pressure.

1. Essential arterial hypertension is an essential hypertension whose causes are not established. Such a diagnosis is made only after lengthy examinations, excluding the presence of secondary hypertension. Characteristic for this disease is a persistent increase in blood pressure. Symptoms of the disease are mostly hidden, but they appear during hypertensive crises
2. Renal arterial hypertension( in another way it is called renoparenchymatous).This type of hypertension is rare - only 2-3% of people. The cause of it are kidney disease, leading to hypervolemia and hypernatremia, which arise due to a decrease in the functional capacity of nephrons. A common diagnosis with this form is glomerulonephritis. In this case, pressure increases are usually preceded by changes in urine analysis.
3. Vasorenal arterial hypertension. At the heart of her development is also a violation of the kidneys, but already because of the ischemia of the filtering organs. This happens with atherosclerosis of the vessels feeding the kidneys, or because of fibromuscular dysplasia. As a result, the renin-angiotensin system is also activated, which leads to a delay in water and sodium.
4. Arterial pulmonary hypertension is a severe form of hypertension that characterizes the increase in pressure in a small circle of blood circulation. As a result, the oxygen supply of the whole organism is disrupted. Shortness of breath is the most important sign of pulmonary hypertension.
5. Labile arterial hypertension - this form is detected in almost 1/3 of people. Arterial pressure can then go up, then bounce back. This type of hypertension is not considered a disease, it does not require special treatment, but it needs constant monitoring.

Whatever the causes and manifestations of hypertension, this disease deserves special attention. Treatment can be prescribed only by a qualified specialist who practices an individual approach to each patient.