Hypertensive encephalopathy

Hypertensive encephalopathy is a serious brain pathology caused by hypertension. The disease has its own signs, methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Hypertensive encephalopathy is a neurological dysfunction of the brain.

Damage to the tissues of the main organ of the nervous system occurs as a result of a deficiency in the transport of blood to small cerebral arteries that undergo changes. The manifestation of such a pathological condition, as well as its symptoms, are determined by the size of the localization sites of damaged brain tissues.

The negative impact of hypertension

A one-time increase in blood pressure leads to a variety of problems in the work of the main organ of the nervous system, a deterioration in the state of nerve fibers, a decrease in the tone of blood vessels against the background of a breakdown in its independent regulation. Affected small vessels become the main cause of the development of diseases of target organs, including the main organ of the nervous system.

A moderate increase in blood pressure is the reason for the launch of the protective mechanism of the vascular system. It allows you to exclude and prevent rupture during narrowing of elastic biological tubes that form a closed blood supply system, as well as to stabilize the pulsating transport of biological material in different parts of the arteries. The high frequency of diagnosing elevated blood pressure leads to thickening, hypertrophy of muscle tissue in the walls of small and medium-sized blood vessels.

This situation entails:

• narrowing of the lumen of the arteries;
• decrease in the speed of blood movement;
• nutritional deficiencies;
• the appearance of a chronic pathological condition, accompanied by oxygen starvation of the main organ of the nervous system.

Hypertensive encephalopathy begins to develop, which has its own symptoms and methods of treatment.

The third stage of hypertension, which is characterized by high values ​​of systolic and diastolic pressure, is the cause of serious damage to the tissues of the main organ of the nervous system.

In the absence of effective treatment or ignoring the appointments of the attending physician, neurological pathologies become irreversible, serious problems arise with a person’s life and his presence in the surrounding society.

Forms of pathology

Hypertensive encephalopathy can occur in acute and chronic form. Each of them differs in its signs and clinical picture. A rapid increase in blood pressure leads to a sharp decrease in the functions of compensatory mechanisms and damage to a single-layer layer of flat cells of mesenchymal origin, located on the inner surface of the vessels, which is called the endothelium.

acute form

Excessive spasm of the small end branches of the arteries that pass into the capillaries can cause paralysis and the development of a pathology called acute hypertensive encephalopathy. Its distinguishing characteristics include a pronounced passive stretching of the muscle tissue of the arterial vessels and a significant increase in the fragility or permeability of the capillaries.

Hypertensive crisis, the diagnosis of which occurs at high values ​​of blood pressure, over 180-190 mm Hg. Art., causes serious changes in the tissues of blood vessels. The high speed of the movement of plasma, blood when encountering obstacles in its path in the form of a narrowing of the lumen of the arteries, atherosclerotic plaques leads to hemorrhages of various volumes along the vascular walls. The changing state of the veins of the meninges, which plays an important role in the process of CSF absorption, causes increased intracranial pressure.

This pathological condition has its own symptoms, which are represented by a long list.

These include:

• unbearable headaches that initially occur in the back of the head, and later spread throughout the head;
• the appearance of nausea and vomiting in the absence of a sense of relief;
• swelling of the optic disc, which causes a sudden deterioration in vision;
• the appearance of pronounced dizziness of a non-systemic nature;
• a noticeable deterioration in well-being and health with additional efforts caused by coughing, sneezing;
• the appearance of convulsions and seizures of an epileptiform nature;
• hearing problems;
• manifestation of symptoms of meningitis in the absence of inflammatory processes in the meninges;
• threshold violation.

Such symptoms, characteristic of a normal hypertensive crisis, signal the involvement of the brain in the pathological process and the appearance of uneven swelling of tissues of ectodermal origin with specialized structures that underlie the nervous system of the human body. Self-treatment of such conditions and the lack of effective therapy leads to an aggravation of the problem, the development of ischemic foci, a decrease in activity and death of neurons.

Chronic form

Chronic developmental hypertensive encephalopathy has three stages of development, each of which has its own symptoms.

1. Neuropathologists, when determining the first stage of brain pathology, note the following symptoms: distracted attention, headaches in various places of localization, short-term memory impairment, and in rare cases, the appearance of dizziness. Periodic, but short-term symptoms of the first degree of pathology are not stable. Lack of quality treatment leads to the progression of neurological dysfunction of the brain.
2. Hypertensive encephalopathy at the second stage of development is characterized by the appearance of distinct neurological changes in the human body, a local clinical picture with a pronounced decrease in cognitive functions, as well as their stable symptoms. In patients, the level of labor productivity decreases, the ability to predict, analyze or organize work or rest disappears. Against the background of focal pathologies of the brain of a neurological nature, special types of disorders arise that signal the need to contact psychiatrists. Sick people are characterized by increased resentment, tearfulness, sensitivity to criticism, panic and depression.
3. The chronic form at the III stage of development is characterized by the aggravation of existing disorders in the brain. The development of lacunar infarction, epileptiform seizures, Parkinson's disease, as well as a decrease in cognitive functions to the degree of dementia are not excluded.

Diagnosis and treatment of pathology

Hypertensive encephalopathy is diagnosed in stages and involves a number of measures.

These include:

• external examination by a neuropathologist of the patient and clarification of his complaints about the deterioration of health;
• determination of the degree of damage to the cognitive functions of the brain;
• verification of hypertension, identification of its degree and causes of development;
• psychiatric consultations, which provide an opportunity to exclude diseases with a similar clinical picture;
• conducting clinical and biochemical blood tests;
• ultrasound dopplerography of the cervical arteries;
• MRI or CT of the brain, necessary to visualize its condition;
• electroencephalography, which provides an opportunity to determine the functionality of the brain.

Treatment involves taking drugs that stabilize blood pressure, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, beta-blockers, vitamin complexes, nootropic drugs to improve brain function, rejuvenate the body and prolong life.

Only professional medical care is the key to obtaining positive results and effectively solving the problem of neurological dysfunction of the brain.