Drugs for hypertension in asthma

In patients with bronchial asthma, an increase in blood pressure (BP) is often observed, and hypertension occurs. In order to normalize the patient's condition, the doctor must carefully select pressure pills for asthma. Many drugs used to treat hypertension can cause asthma attacks. Therapy should be carried out taking into account two diseases in order to avoid complications.

The effect of asthma on blood pressure

The causes of asthma and arterial hypertension are different, risk factors, features of the course of diseases do not have common signs. But often, against the background of attacks of bronchial asthma, patients experience an increase in pressure. According to statistics, such cases are frequent, occur regularly.

Does bronchial asthma cause hypertension in patients, or are these two parallel diseases developing independently? Modern medicine has two opposing views on the issue of the relationship of pathologies.

Some doctors talk about the need to establish a separate diagnosis in asthmatics with high blood pressure - pulmonary hypertension.

Doctors point to direct causal relationships between pathologies:

• 35% of asthmatics develop arterial hypertension;
• during an asthma attack, blood pressure rises sharply;
• normalization of pressure is accompanied by an improvement in the asthmatic state (absence of attacks).

Adherents of this theory consider asthma to be the main factor in the development of chronic cor pulmonale, which causes a stable increase in pressure. According to statistics, in children with bronchial attacks, such a diagnosis occurs much more often.

The second group of doctors speaks about the absence of dependence and connection between the two diseases. Diseases develop separately from one another, but their presence affects the diagnosis, the effectiveness of treatment, and the safety of drugs.

Regardless of whether there is a relationship between bronchial asthma and hypertension, the presence of pathologies should be taken into account in order to choose the right course of treatment. Many blood pressure pills are contraindicated in asthma patients.

Why hypertension occurs in asthma

The theory of pulmonary hypertension links the development of hypotension in bronchial asthma with a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) that occurs in asthmatics during attacks. What is the mechanism of occurrence of complications?

1. Lack of oxygen awakens vascular receptors, which causes an increase in the tone of the autonomic nervous system.
2. Neurons increase the activity of all processes in the body.
3. The amount of hormone produced in the adrenal glands (aldosterone) increases.
4. Aldosterone causes increased stimulation of the artery walls.

This process causes a sharp increase in blood pressure. The data are confirmed by clinical studies conducted during attacks of bronchial asthma.

With a long period of the disease, when asthma is treated with potent drugs, this causes disturbances in the work of the heart. The right ventricle ceases to function normally. This complication is called cor pulmonale syndrome and provokes the development of arterial hypertension.

Hormonal agents used in the treatment of bronchial asthma to help in critical condition also increase the pressure in patients. Injections with glucocorticoids or oral drugs with frequent use disrupt the endocrine system. The result is the development of hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis.

Bronchial asthma can cause arterial hypertension by itself. The main reason for the development of hypertension are drugs used by asthmatics to relieve attacks.

There are risk factors in which an increase in pressure is more often observed in patients with asthma:

• excess weight;
• age (after 50 years);
• development of asthma without effective treatment;
• side effects of drugs.

Some risk factors can be eliminated by making lifestyle changes and following your doctor's recommendations for taking medications.

1. Strong headache.
2. Heaviness in the head.
3. Noise in ears.
4. Nausea.
5. General weakness.
6. Frequent pulse.
7. Palpitation.
8. Sweating.
9. Numbness of hands and feet.
10. Tremor.
11. Pain in the chest.

Principles of treatment

The choice of medicine for hypertension in bronchial asthma depends on what provokes the development of pathology. The doctor conducts a thorough questioning of the patient in order to establish how often asthma attacks occur and when an increase in pressure is observed.

• BP rises during an asthma attack;
• pressure does not depend on seizures, constantly elevated.

The first option does not require specific treatment for hypertension. There is a need to eliminate the attack. To do this, the doctor selects an anti-asthma agent, indicates the dosage and duration of its use. In most cases, inhalation with a spray can stop an attack, reduce pressure.

It is important not to exceed the recommended dose. An increase in the amount of the drug can aggravate the situation, cause an exacerbation.

If the increase in blood pressure does not depend on attacks and remission of bronchial asthma, it is necessary to choose a course of treatment for hypertension. In this case, the drugs should be as neutral as possible in terms of the presence of side effects that do not cause an exacerbation of the underlying disease of asthmatics.

The choice of drugs to reduce pressure

There are several groups of drugs used in the treatment of arterial hypertension. The doctor chooses drugs that do not harm the patient's respiratory system, so as not to complicate the course of bronchial asthma.

1. Beta-blockers cause tissue spasm in the bronchi, lung ventilation is disturbed, and shortness of breath increases.
2. ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme) provoke a dry cough (occurs in 20% of patients taking them), shortness of breath, aggravating the condition of asthmatics.
3. Diuretics cause a decrease in the level of potassium in the blood serum (hypokalemia), an increase in carbon dioxide in the blood (hypercapnia).
4. Alpha-blockers increase the sensitivity of the bronchi to histamine. When taken orally, they are practically safe drugs.

In complex treatment, it is important to take into account the effect of drugs that stop an asthmatic attack on the appearance of hypertension. A group of beta-agonists (Berotek, Salbutamol) with prolonged use provoke an increase in blood pressure. Doctors observe this trend after increasing the dose of inhaled aerosol. Under its influence, myocardial muscles are stimulated, which causes an increase in heart rate.

Taking hormonal drugs (Methylprednisolone, Prednisolone) causes a violation of blood flow, increases the pressure of the flow on the walls of blood vessels, which causes sharp jumps in blood pressure. Adenosinergic drugs (Aminophylline, Eufillin) lead to heart rhythm disturbance, causing an increase in pressure.

• reduced symptoms of hypertension;
• lack of interaction with bronchodilators;
• antioxidant characteristics;
• decreased ability to form blood clots;
• lack of antitussive effect;
• the drug should not affect the level of calcium in the blood.

Preparations of the calcium antagonist group meet all the requirements. Studies have shown that these funds do not disrupt the respiratory system, even with regular use. Doctors use calcium channel blockers in complex therapy.

• dihydropyridine (Felodipine, Nicardipine, Amlodipine);
• non-dihydropyridine (Isoptin, Verapamil).

The drugs of the first group are more often used, they do not increase the heart rate, which is an important advantage.

Diuretics (Lasix, Uregit), cardioselective agents (Concor), a potassium-sparing group of drugs (Triampur, Veroshpiron), diuretics (Thiazid) are also used in complex therapy.

The choice of medications, their form, dosage, frequency of use and duration of use can only be carried out by a doctor. Self-treatment threatens the development of serious complications.

It is necessary to carefully select the course of treatment for asthmatics with "cor pulmonale syndrome". The doctor prescribes additional diagnostic methods in order to assess the general condition of the body.

Traditional medicine offers a wide range of methods that help reduce the frequency of asthma attacks, as well as lower blood pressure. Healing collections of herbs, tinctures, rubbing reduce pain during an exacerbation. The use of traditional medicine must also be agreed with the attending physician.

Prevention of complications

Patients with bronchial asthma can avoid the development of arterial hypertension if they follow the doctor's recommendations regarding treatment and lifestyle:

1. Relieve asthma attacks with local preparations, reducing the effects of toxins on the entire body.
2. Conduct regular monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure.
3. If you experience heart rhythm disturbances or a stable increase in pressure, consult a doctor.
4. Do a cardiogram twice a year for the timely detection of pathologies.
5. Take maintenance drugs in case of chronic hypertension.
6. Avoid increased physical exertion, stress, provoking pressure drops.
7. Give up bad habits (smoking exacerbates asthma and hypertension).

If all the rules and recommendations are followed, taking into account the correctly selected complex treatment, patients with bronchial asthma will not have complications of the disease.

Bronchial asthma is not a sentence and a direct cause of the development of arterial hypertension. A timely diagnosis, a correct course of treatment that takes into account symptoms, risk factors and side effects, and the prevention of complications will allow patients with asthma to live for many years.