How to treat high blood pressure?

Medical sources describe many ways to treat high blood pressure. But the main thing in the elimination of hypertension is the correction of the patient's lifestyle.

Drug treatment, phototherapy and folk remedies will not be able to provide a long-term reduction in pressure without maintaining a special diet, giving up bad habits and good sleep.

In addition, the method of treatment should be determined solely by the doctor, depending on the stage of hypertension and the characteristics of the patient. And only after conducting the necessary research.

What is hypertension

In a healthy person, blood pressure readings change throughout the day - the lowest during sleep and the highest when he is engaged in vigorous physical or mental activity. Its value is also affected by stressful situations, poor ecology, alcohol abuse and smoking.

More susceptible to hypertension:

• women over 45;
• persons with a hereditary predisposition;
• suffering from chronic diseases of the kidneys, liver;
• having mental disabilities.

According to WHO guidelines, 140/90 mm Hg is considered high. Art.

Under the action of substances secreted by the nervous and endocrine systems, vasoconstriction occurs and blood pressure rises. In addition to the chemical formula of the blood, the state of the blood vessels is also regulated by the impulses of the sympathetic nervous system and the cerebral cortex. In a person with hypertension, the delicate balance in the body is disturbed, which ensures pressure fluctuations within the normal range, malfunctions of the heart and other symptoms of the disease occur.

Symptoms and consequences of hypertension

Initially, manifestations of high blood pressure may not bother a person, then the disease progresses, dizziness, loss of balance, fatigue, sleep disturbances are observed. In some cases, clouding of consciousness is possible. A characteristic symptom of hypertension is the appearance of “flies” before the eyes due to an intense rush of blood to the brain.

If you do not seek medical help in a timely manner, against the background of hypertension, heart attacks, strokes or coronary heart disease can occur - conditions that are life-threatening for the patient. High blood pressure, which has not been treated for years, causes atherosclerosis and kidney dysfunction. As for the heart, which has to intensively pump the blood of a hypertensive person, it initially adapts, increasing the mass of the heart muscle. But with prolonged hypertension, the increase in muscles is replaced by the expansion of the chambers of the organ, as a result of which heart failure develops.

Degrees of manifestation of pathology

According to the complexity of the course, hypertension is divided into 3 stages:

1. Pressure level 160-170/90-100 mm Hg. Art. The patient complains of headaches, decreased ability to work, insomnia, general weakness. At the same time, sedatives and proper rest significantly improve the patient's condition, normalize blood pressure.
2. The pressure rises to the level of 180-200/105-110 mm Hg. Art. It can be reduced only with the help of antihypertensive drugs. At this stage, lesions of the kidneys, eyes and other systems appear. Possible hypertensive crises.
3. The tonometer shows a pressure of 200-220/115-120 mm Hg. st and above. Blood vessels and internal organs undergo irreversible changes. Heart attack and stroke are more common in the third stage of hypertension.

Basically, hypertension is manifested by headaches, nausea, nosebleeds, increased heart rate. However, there are frequent cases of asymptomatic course of the disease, when a person does not even suspect an increase in blood pressure. This is the whole insidiousness of hypertension.

Therapeutic measures

Thanks to diet, physical activity and good rest, you can partially or completely avoid the use of drugs that have a large number of side effects.

To get rid of high blood pressure, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Control weight. People who are overweight are more susceptible to hypertension. Reducing body weight by just a few kilograms can normalize blood pressure and improve the patient's condition.
2. Exercise. Before starting, it is better to consult with a cardiologist and choose an individual training schedule. Walking, swimming and gymnastics are most useful. Regular exercise helps burn fat and reduce body weight.
3. To refuse from bad habits. Smoking is the most dangerous for hypertension. This habit must be broken forever. Nicotine, getting into the blood, constricts blood vessels and blood pressure increases. This not only worsens the patient's condition, but also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke several times. Regarding alcohol, there is an opinion that in small doses it dilates blood vessels and reduces pressure. However, the harm from such a “treatment” outweighs the benefits. Even for a healthy person, the use of alcoholic beverages is a serious stress for the body, not to mention hypertensive patients. To get rid of the disease, you need to fight bad habits.
4. Reduce the number of stressful situations. When a person is nervous or experiencing negative emotions, there is an active release of the hormone adrenaline into the blood, which causes vasoconstriction and an increase in blood pressure.

Medical therapy for hypertension

Modern medicine uses an integrated approach in which antihypertensive drugs are prescribed along with a change in the patient's lifestyle. To reduce high blood pressure forever, it is not enough to take drugs in courses, they must be taken all your life.

The following groups of medicines are most often prescribed:

1. calcium antagonists. They block the flow of calcium into the cells. It is known that during the penetration of the element through special channels into the cell, the actomyosin protein is released, which causes vasoconstriction and increases the heart rate. As a result, the pressure increases. These drugs include Nifedipine, Fenigidin, Corinfar and others.
2. Beta blockers. They block beta-1 adrenergic receptors, the irritation of which leads to an increase in heart rate. Contraindicated in people with chronic lung diseases, as they can affect beta-2 adrenoreceptors in the bronchi and cause suffocation. To avoid side effects, modern drugs have been developed that act selectively on the beta-1 receptors of the heart (Metoprolol, Coriol, Bisoprolol and others).
3. Alpha blockers. Sufficiently strong medications that reduce spasm of arterioles due to the effect on alpha-adrenergic receptors located in them (Ebrantil, Fentolamine, Arfonad).
4. Diuretics. They remove excess fluid from the body along with sodium ions, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure. Not all diuretics are suitable for the treatment of hypertension; Furosemide, Uregit, Lasix, Hypothiazid are more often used.
5. ACE inhibitors. They inhibit the action of angiotensin-converting enzyme, with the help of which a substance is formed that constricts blood vessels and increases the frequency of heart contraction (Captopril, Kaptopress, Ampril, Enam).
6. Sympatholytics. They destroy norepinephrine, which is responsible for conducting impulses of the sympathetic nervous system (Raunatin, Rauvazan, Adelfan). Modern medicine uses them much less frequently due to the large number of contraindications. Enhance the secretion of gastric and intestinal juice.

Synthetic drugs in the treatment of hypertension are prescribed only by a doctor. Uncontrolled intake of the above funds is dangerous to the health and life of the patient. Also, drugs are contraindicated in pregnant and lactating mothers.

Laser therapy for hypertension

In recent years, laser therapy has become increasingly popular in the fight against hypertension. More often it is used in combination with drug treatment.

Under the influence of laser radiation, a number of positive changes occur in the body:

1. Improves blood microcirculation. The use of a laser can reduce swelling of the limbs, normalize blood circulation, and is an excellent prevention of heart attack and stroke.
2. Activates metabolism. Laser energy improves the transport of oxygen into tissues, as a result of which metabolic processes are stimulated.
3. Increases the effectiveness of drug therapy (allows you to reduce several times the number and dosage of drugs in the treatment of high blood pressure).
4. It has an antispasmodic effect. Laser radiation reduces the spasm of the coronary vessels, thereby increasing blood flow to the heart and other organs, reducing pressure.

The best result in the treatment of hypertension can be achieved using combinations of this method and intravenous therapy. In addition, this procedure has a calming effect on the nervous system. It is noted that in 98% of cases, during laser exposure, patients fall asleep with a full restorative sleep.

The laser technique has contraindications for use:

• circulatory disorders of the brain;
• aortic aneurysm;
• severe diseases of the cardiovascular system with a violation of the rhythm of heart contractions;
• atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis.

The procedure is carried out in courses with an interval of 3-5 weeks. The number of courses and the duration of the breaks between them is determined only by the doctor based on the severity of the disease and the effectiveness of laser therapy. On average, 10-12 procedures are needed.

Folk remedies for high blood pressure

Folk recipes in the fight against high blood pressure are effective in the early stages of the disease and for its prevention.

Using herbal tinctures, decoctions and other methods of treatment at home, do not forget about the consultation of a cardiologist and the classical methods of treating hypertension.

Consider several popular and effective methods to reduce pressure without drugs:

1. Beet juice. By drinking beetroot juice every day, you can control the pressure within the normal range. But we must remember that it is difficult to digest, so it is better to drink it in small portions several times a day or mixed with other juice (for example, carrot juice) or honey.
2. Calendula. It is necessary to take 20 g of plant flowers and pour them with 100 ml of vodka. Infuse for 7 days, and then take 3 times a day. Such a tool improves the general condition, relieves headaches, normalizes sleep.
3. Ice. Attach 2 pieces of ice to the 7th cervical vertebra. To find it, you should tilt your head down and feel the cervical spine with your fingers. The desired vertebra will stand out above the rest. After the ice has melted, you need to rub camphor oil into the skin with massage movements. The procedure is repeated after 2-3 days.
4. Cranberry. Reduces pressure very well. You can eat fresh a few berries every day or add honey.
5. Corn flour. Take 1 tablespoon of the ingredient and pour 200 ml of hot water. Insist 1 night, and drink in the morning without mixing the sediment.
6. Garlic. Effective and easy to prepare. It is necessary to grate 1 lemon with zest, chop 5 garlic cloves and mix with 100 g of honey. Leave for a week in a cool dark place. Consume 1 teaspoon 3 times a day. The rest should be in the refrigerator.
7. Kefir. Helps fight high blood pressure regular kefir with the addition of cinnamon.
8. Pine cones. Take 3 cones, place in a glass container and pour 0.5 liters of vodka. Then add sugar (10 tsp) and valerian tincture (1 tbsp). Place for 14 days in a cool place away from sunlight. After strain and drink before going to bed, 1 tbsp. l.
9. Rowan berries. Rinse a glass of berries well and chop. Add a liter of water and boil for at least 5 minutes. Strain the broth and put in it 2 tbsp. l. honey. Insist 3-5 days. Such a remedy is contraindicated in people with increased blood clots.
10. Vinegar. Suitable apple or wine (5-6%). Moisten a piece of cloth with vinegar and apply to the heels for 5-10 minutes until the pressure returns to normal.

Tinctures and decoctions of medicinal plants help to forget about hypertension forever.

The most commonly used herbs are:

• having a calming effect on the nervous system (motherwort, hawthorn, valerian);
• with a diuretic effect (kidney tea, knotweed, dill);
• normalizing the tone of blood vessels (astragalus, barberry, shepherd's purse).

The treatment of hypertension is generally long-term and requires serious effort on the part of the patient. Only one method is not enough and often a positive result can be achieved only when using an integrated approach under the supervision of a doctor.

Be sure to undergo a thorough examination before starting therapy, because hypertension can exist as an independent disease, or be a manifestation of other disorders in the body.