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Methods for the treatment and prevention of shortness of breath at high pressure
Content
Any deviation in the work of the cardiovascular system is accompanied by a number of unpleasant symptoms, including violations of the respiratory function of the body. Shortness of breath with hypertension is a common occurrence. It may indicate possible complications, which significantly weakens the body, making it more vulnerable to many other serious diseases.
The concept of shortness of breath, the main characteristics
Shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms that is periodically observed in most people who have problems with the heart or respiratory system.
Visible signs include:
- a feeling of suffocation (the patient seems to lack air, he cannot take a full breath or exhale);
- quickening of breathing;
- increased heart rate;
- changes in the respiratory processes (the depth of inhalation / exhalation is lost, since the person is not able to control it);
- breathing becomes noisy.
Even those who have not previously encountered a similar problem can determine the presence of shortness of breath. People around, as a rule, clearly see all the signs of respiratory failure in the patient.
Depending on this, three types of shortness of breath can be distinguished:In various diseases, the manifestation of shortness of breath is almost identical. If several differences are observed, then they depend on the general manifestation of the symptom at different time intervals (respiratory phases).
- inspiratory (failures occur on inspiration);
- expiratory (accompanies the exhalation process);
- mixed (difficulty inhaling and exhaling).
It is important not to forget that the presence of short-term shortness of breath after prolonged physical exertion is a normal reaction of the body to an external factor. An alarm signal is a failure in breathing when a person is in a state of calm. If congestion behind the sternum and discomfort begin to appear even after the usual active actions, it is better to immediately contact a specialist. It will help in a short time to establish the cause of the pathology that has arisen.
Causes
A large number of pathological conditions may be accompanied by shortness of breath. Doctors divide possible deviations into three large groups, thereby pointing to the main source of breathing problems.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
They cause shortness of breath in people of mature and old age. When the heart cannot fully cope with its main function, the entire system fails. The influx of the required amount of blood and oxygen decreases, as a result of which breathing begins to intensify, the effect of suffocation appears. Shortness of breath with hypertension can also appear at a young age, if proper attention is not paid to health.
- Diseases of the respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs).
In diseases of the bronchi and lungs, respiratory processes may change. The bronchi are significantly narrowed, and the lung tissue tends to deform. Changes lead to increased work of the system due to lack of oxygen. Intensive work mode is accompanied by shortness of breath.
- anemia.
With anemia, the main problem is the lack of red blood cells (red bodies that carry oxygen) and a low level of hemoglobin. Even if the lungs work at full capacity and pass the necessary amount of useful substances into the human body, a deficiency of red cells inhibits the functioning of other systems.
Cardiac dyspnea usually accompanies high or low blood pressure. It is a consequence of pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
Shortness of breath in hypertension
Hypertension is a disease in which there is high blood pressure. As you know, it significantly affects the functioning of the heart. If blood pressure rises sharply, the load on the heart also increases several times.
Overloading the heart muscle leads to a violation of the pumping function of the organ, resulting in unpleasant symptoms, including shortness of breath. The body begins to get tired and exhausted faster.
In hypertension, the effect of suffocation is directly related to left ventricular failure. Most of these episodes are short lived. They do not last more than 20-30 minutes and can end spontaneously.
If left untreated, hypertension can gradually become more severe and eventually lead to heart failure.
In addition to shortness of breath, hypertension has a list of other symptoms that you also need to familiarize yourself with in order to avoid further complications:- frequent headaches;
- dizziness;
- deterioration of health (fatigue, lethargy quickly appears; even minimal physical exertion is difficult to endure);
- nervousness, difficult tolerance of stressful situations;
- redness of the skin (especially on the face);
- feeling of heat;
- unpleasant noise in the ears (leads to constant discomfort);
- mild pain in the chest;
- increased sweating;
- flickering of small specks of light before the eyes.
In a hypertensive crisis, shortness of breath is supplemented by moist rales, the number of which gradually increases. At the same time, pulmonary edema is not observed, foamy sputum is not released.
With reduced pressure, shortness of breath appears as a result of serious physical, mental or emotional stress. The patient feels discomfort in the region of the heart, the state of health worsens.
Diagnosis and treatment methods
Diagnosis and treatment of heart pathology should be carried out exclusively in a medical institution under the supervision of a qualified specialist.
The treatment of shortness of breath, which is associated with arterial hypertension, is done by:- therapist (conducts an initial study, gives directions for general tests necessary for further observations);
- cardiologist (conducts a number of highly specialized studies).
In order for the treatment to be as effective as possible, the doctor must obtain as much information about the problem from the patient as possible.
The patient must be given answers to a list of basic questions:- When did shortness of breath first occur?
- Does the shortness of breath appear after the application of physical force or even in a relaxed state?
- Is it harder to inhale or exhale?
- Are there any positions that help facilitate the breathing process?
- Do you have any other symptoms at the same time?
Diagnosis of the disease occurs in several stages. On each of them conduct special research.
In addition to the standard biochemical blood test, specialists conduct:- ECG (electrocardiography; gives information about the functionality of the heart);
- Ultrasound of the heart (examines the morphological changes in the heart muscle and valvular apparatus);
- radiography (provides features of the internal structure of the organs that are being examined).
Prevention
Preventive measures are aimed at preventing the occurrence of hypertension.
Doctors provide a number of tips that can help avoid problems with the cardiovascular system:- Stick to a healthy diet. Minimize the consumption of salty and peppery foods. Make a meal schedule.
- Give up bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol). Alcohol constricts blood vessels, causing blood pressure to rise.
- Avoid serious stressful situations.
- Do not forget about a good rest. It is important to get enough sleep and not torment the body with excessive physical and emotional stress.
- Do not self-medicate. You can not use medicines without a doctor's prescription.
- Periodically undergo medical examinations. Consult a cardiologist if there are complaints regarding the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
In the case when the patient has an attack of shortness of breath, it is necessary to provide him with access to fresh air. Physical activity is best kept to a minimum and allowed to rest. The less movement, the faster the body will return to normal.
To relieve the symptoms, it is recommended to give the patient a sedative to drink. The ideal option is an infusion of valerian.
