Diagnosis of secondary hypertension

One of the most common diseases that is often diagnosed in people of different ages is hypertension. This disease is quite dangerous for the body, because it can provoke the development of a number of adverse consequences for the body. There are several different forms of this disease, the correct definition of which depends on the entire effectiveness of treatment.

What is an ailment

Quite often, doctors diagnose this form of the disease as secondary arterial hypertension.

This ailment is a persistent increase in pressure, which may be associated with the development of diseases or pathological processes in the internal organs that are responsible for the natural normalization of blood pressure.

A fairly large number of different factors can provoke the development of such an ailment. Predominantly, the development of diseases of various body systems leads to an increase in blood pressure.

Most often, the development of this phenomenon is provoked by:

• Diseases of the kidneys and urinary system.

Both congenital and acquired ailments can provoke an increase in pressure.

• Diseases of the endocrine system.
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
• CNS diseases.

The features of the development of this disease directly depend on what kind of disease provoked its development. In kidney diseases, the mechanism of increasing blood pressure is mainly associated with a decrease in the activity of renal enzymes. With ailments of the endocrine system, an unstable level of hormones responds due to an increase in pressure. Diseases of the central nervous system disrupt the work of regulatory processes at the level of nerves.

If the damage to the heart or blood vessels acted as the main cause of the occurrence of such a phenomenon, then the features of the development of blood pressure depend on the type of lesion.

Most often, an increase in blood pressure is due to the following factors:

• Decreased elasticity of the heart vessels.
• Narrowing of the vascular lumen.
• Decreased vascular output.
• Increased heart rate.

The main symptoms of secondary hypertension

It is customary to distinguish several different types of ailments.

As a rule, they are divided into groups:

• Renal.
• Endocrine.
• Hemodynamic.
• Centrogenic.

Quite often, doctors observe a combination of several diseases that lead to a persistent increase in blood pressure. However, the list provided in the classification is not exhaustive. In a separate group, experts distinguish hypertension, which develops against the background of chronic ailments and other conditions.

Symptoms of high blood pressure include the following:

• Pain in the head.
• Dizziness.
• Visual disturbances.
• Hearing disorders.
• Pain in the chest.

Symptoms that indicate the development of the underlying ailment may or may not appear. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the organism and the specifics of the disease.

As a rule, the following factors indicate that symptomatic hypertension develops:

• High blood pressure before the age of 50.
• Acute development of the disease.
• Asymptomatic course of the disease.
• Low efficiency of antihypertensive therapy.
• The malignant nature of the disease.

Depending on the characteristics of the development of the disease, it is customary to distinguish benign and malignant forms of the disease. The variety of forms of the disease and the various manifestations of the main symptoms determine the variety of manifestations of this disease.

Differential diagnosis of secondary arterial hypertension

Diagnosing symptomatic arterial hypertension is a rather complicated process. This is largely due to the fact that this phenomenon has quite a few different symptoms, most of which are non-specific. Diagnosis of secondary or symptomatic hypertension is necessarily complex.

First of all, differential diagnosis is based on determining the main manifestations of any disease and the form of increased blood pressure. Quite often, if a patient has a suspicion of symptomatic hypertension, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive examination to exclude the development of ailments that can provoke an increase in blood pressure.

The main diagnostic measures are the following:

• Blood analysis.
• Analysis of urine.
• Study of the state of blood vessels.
• Definition of pathologies of the heart.
• Ultrasound examination of the kidneys.

These studies make it possible to exclude the development of most ailments that provoke an increase in blood pressure.

Features of the diagnosis of the nephrogenic form

Each form of the disease is diagnosed in a special way.

If it is necessary to confirm the nephrogenic form of the disease, the appearance of such symptoms is observed:

• The appearance of sediment in the urine.
• Fever.

In addition, with the development of this disease, various syndromes can manifest themselves. As a rule, the development of various kinds of syndromes is diagnosed at the initial stage of diagnosis.

First of all, the doctor collects information about the development of diseases of the urinary system. In addition, the specialist establishes the presence of complaints about the development of renal pathology. In the presence of pathology and the parallel development of hypertension, the specialist is likely to make an assumption about the relationship of these ailments.

In the presence of symptoms such as fever, joint pain, high blood pressure, a specialist is likely to make a diagnosis such as periarteritis. This disease is complex and not only the kidneys are involved in the process.

With the appearance of such signs as high blood pressure and fever, most likely, the specialist will establish a suspicion of the infectious nature of the disease of the urinary system.

In the vast majority of cases, the development of this form of the disease is associated with the development of benign or malignant neoplasms. One of the most common forms of neoplasms is aldosteroma. In most cases, this neoplasm is benign and aldosterone is formed.

The mechanism of the development of the disease is associated with an increase in the amount of aldosterone. An increase in the amount of this substance is associated with a decrease in potassium reabsorption. With excessive excretion of potassium from the body, a significant increase in the level of salts is observed. In this regard, the appearance of swelling in the tissues and blood vessels is observed. The appearance of edema significantly narrows the vascular lumen, which causes the development of arterial hypertension.

This form of the disease most often develops in older women.

With this disease, 3 different forms of symptoms appear:

• Neuromuscular.

Such symptoms are due to the effect on the muscle structure. These include significant weakness and convulsions.

• Renal.

This is one of the most common symptoms. The most common manifestations are nycturia and polyuria. Due to the effect on the kidneys, quite often the manifestation of such signs is accompanied by a strong feeling of thirst.

• Associated with increased blood pressure.

Diagnosing this form of the disease is quite difficult. The most accurate diagnosis allows the passage of tomography. Also, quite often, experts recommend undergoing ultrasound examinations.

Features of the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma

A phenomenon such as pheochromocytoma is a neoplasm, the increase of which occurs due to the adrenal medulla. Such a phenomenon can manifest itself both in one and in several places. In addition, the nature of its manifestation may vary. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in older males.

The mechanism of development is due to an excess of catecholamines, the systematic release of which into the blood provokes the development of crises. It is the excess amount of these components in the blood that leads to excitation of blood vessels and their spasms, which causes an increase in diastolic and systolic pressure.

The main symptom of the development of this disease is increased blood pressure, which can manifest itself in several forms:

• Paroxysmal.

This form is characterized by a significant sharp increase in pressure. Quite often it is accompanied by severe pain in the head, increased heart rate, chills and cooling of the extremities. There may also be pain in the heart and shortness of breath. The duration of crises varies from 3 minutes to 2 hours. In the absence of crisis phenomena, the level of blood pressure is predominantly stable.

• stable.

This form is characterized by a stable increase in blood pressure, which is not accompanied by the occurrence of crises.

• Mixed.

This form is characterized by a combination of arterial hypertension and the development of crisis phenomena against its background. With improper or untimely treatment, such a crisis can lead to death.

Quite often, such an ailment entails the occurrence of a number of rather serious complications.

The most common occurrences:

• Pulmonary edema.
• Hemorrhages in internal organs.
• Heart failure.

Diagnosis of this disease is based on the presence in the urine of compounds such as adrenaline. Quite often, experts determine the level of vanilla-mandelic acid. This substance acts as a catalyst for both hormones. As a rule, the concentration of this substance in a sick person is 10 times higher than in a healthy one.

Also, the diagnosis of a neoplasm is carried out by undergoing an ultrasound examination or tomography. Treatment of such an ailment, as a rule, is of an operational nature.

Features of Itsenko-Cushing's disease

The appearance of such an ailment is due to the development of a tumor in the beam region. Neoplasm can be both benign and malignant. Most often, the development of this disease is observed in women of the middle age group.

Such a sign of this disease as obesity has a number of its specific features. First of all, the deposition of adipose tissue is observed in the area of ​​the sides, abdomen and cheeks. At the same time, the skin becomes quite dry and in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe limbs it can change its color.

Hypertension in this disease occurs in a stable form, which is not accompanied by the development of serious crises. There is a uniform increase in both upper and lower blood pressure.

To confirm the diagnosis, first of all, specialists determine the concentration of corticosteroids in the blood and conduct an ultrasound examination. As a rule, the treatment of such an ailment is carried out with the help of surgery.

What is vasorenal hypertension

One of the most common forms of symptomatic arterial hypertension is renovascular. As a rule, its development is due to circulatory disorders in the kidneys and urinary tract. Violation of blood circulation is caused by a decrease in the lumen of the arteries. In turn, the same factor leads to the development of ischemia of the renal tissues, which leads to a rather high level of renin production. With an excess of renin, it begins to transform into antiohesin - a substance that provokes vasospasm and affects a sharp increase in blood pressure. In addition, an excess of this compound can provoke a delay in the body of salts and water.

There are no special symptoms characteristic of the development of this disease.

Most often, patients note the appearance of such signs of renovascular hypertension as:

• Pain in the head.
• Noise in ears.
• Pain in the eye area.
• Memory deterioration.
• Pain in the region of the heart.
• Feeling of heaviness.
• Pain in the lumbar region.

However, in some cases, experts note the asymptomatic course of this disease.

When determining the diagnosis, specialists rely on the following groups of data:

• The age of the patient.
• The speed of development.
• pressure level.
• Drug resistance.
• form of hypertension.

Typically, this form of hypertension is characterized by relatively high blood pressure.

Additionally, to clarify the diagnosis, the specialist prescribes the following studies:

• Determination of the level of renin.
• Ultrasonography.
• Determination of vascular patency.

As a rule, this form of the disease is treated quite difficult. To eliminate it, various combinations of antihypertensive drugs of a very high dosage are used.

Symptomatic arterial hypertension provoked by drugs

Dosage forms of the disease can provoke the occurrence of vasospasm and significantly increase blood viscosity. This factor provokes a serious water and salt retention in the body and, as a result, an increase in blood pressure.

Quite often, the occurrence of this form of hypertension is due to the use of drugs that include adrenomimetics in their composition. In addition, quite often provokes the development of this phenomenon and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Experts note that taking antidepressants can also provoke the development of arterial hypertension.

If you suspect the development of this form of the disease and determine the cause of its development, the specialist conducts a detailed collection of information about the medications that the patient took. Diagnostic measures are also taken to determine the level of renin in the blood.

Other causes of symptomatic hypertension

Quite often, specialists are faced with the development of hypertension of the so-called neurogenic type, the occurrence of which is associated with damage to certain parts of the brain, as well as the spinal cord. With such hypertension, in addition to a significant increase in blood pressure, there are serious headaches, loss of consciousness and dizziness.

The following symptoms may also appear:

• Sweating.
• Pain in the abdomen.
• Seizures.

For diagnosis, the study of cerebral vessels and computed tomography is used. Treatment of this form of the disease is mainly aimed at improving the condition of the brain.

Also, hypertension may be due to a congenital malformation of the aorta. This kind of defect interferes with normal blood circulation and is called aortic contraction.

With this form of hypertension, there is a rather strong difference in the level of blood pressure when measured on the arms and legs. The first signs of increased pressure can be observed between the ages of 5 and 15 years. Diagnosis of pathology is made by conducting an X-ray examination of the chest.

Basic treatment measures

When diagnosing this disease, the treatment is selected by a specialist on an individual basis, taking into account the characteristics of the patient's condition and the specifics of the underlying disease. When an ailment is detected, the development of which is due to problems with the kidneys, quite often they resort to treatment in the form of an operation.

Especially often the surgical method of treatment is used for such ailments as:

• Pheochromocytoma.
• Cancer.
• Corticosteoma.

If the increase in blood pressure is provoked by a neoplasm in the pituitary gland, treatment is carried out using a laser or radiotherapy.

Also, very often, to eliminate this ailment, they resort to drug therapy of the underlying disease. This is the most effective method of treatment, which in most cases can significantly reduce pressure. As a rule, this form of treatment involves taking not only drugs aimed at eliminating the underlying disease, but also various antihypertensive drugs that help stabilize the level of pressure.

If the development of hypertension provoked kidney damage, then diuretics are additionally used to treat patients. Quite often, experts recommend combining them with ACE inhibitors.

With the low effectiveness of standard antihypertensive drugs, adrenoblockers may be additionally prescribed. As a rule, specialists to eliminate this disease use complex treatment with a combination of various groups of medicines.

When choosing a drug treatment, experts take into account the presence of possible contraindications for the use of one or another kind of drug and the manifestation of possible side effects. This is especially true for the treatment of older patients. This is due to the fact that in old age it is impossible to resort to a sharp decrease in pressure, since this can significantly worsen the blood circulation of vital organs.

Quite often, for this group of patients, experts recommend using small doses of caffeine in the morning. This measure helps to normalize the level of pressure and blood circulation processes.

Prevention measures

There are a lot of preventive measures that help to avoid the development of this disease.

The most important measures:

• Optimization of the daily routine.

A normal combination of work and rest will help to avoid overwork and enable the body to recuperate. Insufficient rest can lead to the development of significant overwork, which will reduce the body's defenses and provoke the development of a number of extremely unpleasant diseases.

When organizing a regimen, it is important to pay attention to the alternation of time of activity and rest. One of the main provisions of proper rest is based on the fact that the duration of its active part should be at least 8 hours. In addition, for the speedy recovery of the body, it is advisable to alternate active and passive rest.

• Exercise stress.

Moderate physical activity will allow the body to normalize its functioning. With hypertension, the selection of the load must be approached very carefully, since some types of physical activity can provoke an increase in pressure.

To prevent a significant increase in pressure, it is necessary to regularly perform sports exercises and engage in industrial gymnastics. This is especially important for sedentary work and low physical activity.

• Walks.

Daily walks in the fresh air can bring blood pressure to normal. In addition, several times a season, you can resort to spa treatment in order to increase the body's defenses.

• Avoid emotional and psychophysical overload.

Avoiding stress and excessive psycho-emotional stress allows you to normalize the state of the nervous system and reduce the load on the body.

• Long sleep.

The correct duration of sleep allows you to reduce the load on the main body systems and balance the time of rest. During sleep, the body rests and regenerates. That is why it is important to devote as much time as possible to a good sleep. For additional relaxation of the body, you can take a soothing bath at night. This will reduce stress. Before going to bed, it is best to ventilate the room well in order to ensure the flow of fresh air.

• Normalize metabolism.

Normalization of metabolism is one of the most important measures that helps prevent the development of hypertension. In order for the metabolism to return to normal, it is necessary to reduce the calorie content of food and give up unhealthy foods.

• Reduce body weight.

Obesity is one of the most common causes of arterial hypertension. That is why experts recommend first of all to get rid of excess weight. Getting rid of excess body weight will reduce the load on the body and normalize the passage of metabolic processes in the body.

• To refuse from bad habits.

Bad habits significantly reduce the level of the body's defenses, which is why it is extremely important to reduce the load on vital organs by quitting smoking and alcohol. It is also important to exclude coffee, because this drink tones up the blood vessels quite strongly.

• Reduce salt intake.

Salt contributes to fluid retention in the body, so it is quite important to minimize its use in order to normalize the fluid output function.

Forecasts

The prognosis largely depends on which organs were affected. The form of hypertension also has a strong influence.

With improper treatment, hypertension often provokes the development of a number of very serious complications.

As a rule, patients develop:

• Heart failure.
• Heart attack.
• Edema of internal organs.

Also, quite often, significantly increased blood pressure acts as one of the causes of a stroke, which can subsequently lead to serious disability or death.

With a malignant form of the disease, the prognosis is usually not very favorable.

In many ways, complications, as well as the frequency of their occurrence, depend on the age of the patient and the state of his body. Starting treatment as early as possible and taking medications correctly will help prolong health.

Symptomatic arterial hypertension is an extremely negative phenomenon that indicates the development of serious diseases in the body. Therefore, when the first negative symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor to start treatment.