Almost everyone has experienced increased blood pressure at least once in their life and knows how much trouble high blood pressure causes.However, high blood pressure is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance.
Strong pressure fluctuations have a negative effect on the body and a chronic illness, if left untreated, can even lead to the most devastating consequences.Today we'll talk about how each stage of hypertension differs and what risks it poses.
Phases of headache
Stage I
The pressure in stage 1 of hypertension does not exceed 159/99 mm.Hg Art. Blood pressure can remain in this elevated state for several days.Regular rest and the exclusion of stressful situations also significantly help reduce the indicators.In more severe stages, it is no longer so easy to normalize blood pressure.
This stage of hypertension development is characterized by the fact that there are no signs that target organs are affected by hypertension, so that in many cases the course of the disease is practically asymptomatic.Sleep disorders and pain in the head or heart only occasionally occur.Clinical examinations may reveal a slight increase in tone in the arterial fundus.
Hypertensive crises in form 1 of the disease are very rare and usually occur under the influence of external circumstances, for example weather or severe stress.This also often happens during menopause in women.Because the disease is in its early stages, it is easily treatable and lifestyle changes are often sufficient;Drug therapy may not be necessary.If treatment is initiated in a timely manner and every recommendation is consciously implemented, the prognosis is very favorable.
Stage II
The pressure level in stage 2 hypertension ranges up to 179 mm.Hg Art. (diastolic) and up to 109 mm.Hg Art. (systolic).Rest can no longer normalize blood pressure.The patient often suffers from pain, shortness of breath on exertion, poor sleep, dizziness and angina.
The group is characterized by the appearance of the first signs from the internal organs.This form of damage often has little impact on their function.There are also no obvious subjective symptoms that bother the patient.Most often, at stage 2 of the development of hypertension, the following are noted:
- Signs characteristic of left ventricular hypertrophy;
- the amount of creatine in the blood increases;
- The arteries in the retina narrow.
- Protein is found in urine.
In stage 2 high blood pressure, hypertensive crises are not uncommon, which means there is a risk of very serious complications, including stroke.In this case, it will no longer be possible without constant drug therapy.
Stage III
The final stage of hypertension has the most severe course and has the most extensive group of dysfunctions of a whole group of target organs.The kidneys, eyes, brain, blood vessels and heart suffer the most.Blood pressure is stubborn and it is quite difficult to normalize its value, even taking pills.Increases in blood pressure to 180/110 mm are not uncommon.Hg Art. and above.
Symptoms at stage 3 of the disease are in many ways similar to those listed above, but are also accompanied by quite dangerous signs of the affected organs (for example, kidney failure).Memory often deteriorates, severe cardiac arrhythmias occur and vision decreases.
The most dangerous thing is that high blood pressure always affects the heart.The contractility and conductivity of the muscle is almost always impaired.Clinical studies also show many disorders in other organs.
Hypertension has not only stages 1, 2, 3, but also grades 1, 2, 3, which we will talk about later.
Degrees
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The first degree of severity refers to the mildest, in which periodic increases in blood pressure are observed.Another feature is that the pressure level can stabilize on its own.The most common cause of stage 1 headaches is constant stress.
II degree
Moderate hypertension is characterized not only by the impossibility of independently stabilizing blood pressure, but also by the fact that the periods of normal pressure are very short.The main manifestation is severe headaches.
If the disease develops very quickly, one can speak of a malignant course of hypertension.This form is very dangerous because the disease can develop quickly.
III.degree
With grade 3 hypertension, the pressure always remains in a stable elevated state.If blood pressure drops, those affected are plagued by weakness and a number of other symptoms of internal organs.The changes that occur at this stage of the disease are already irreversible.
Also, the classification of hypertension, in addition to 1, 2, 3 degrees and stages, also includes 1, 2, 3, 4 risks, which we will talk about later.
Risks
Low, insignificant
The lowest risk of complications is in women under 65 years of age and men under 55 years of age who have developed stage 1 “mild” arterial hypertension.Over the next 10 years, only about 15% develop vascular or cardiac pathologies that develop as a result of the disease.Such patients are often cared for by general practitioners, as serious treatment by a cardiologist makes no sense.
If there is still a low risk, patients need to try to make significant changes to their lifestyle in the near future (no longer than 6 months).If the dynamics are positive, he can be observed by a doctor for some time.If such treatment does not bring results and a reduction in blood pressure cannot be achieved, doctors may recommend a change in treatment tactics, which entails prescribing medication.However, doctors often insist on a healthy lifestyle, since such therapy does not have any negative consequences.
Medium
This group includes patients with hypertension of both the second and first types.Your blood pressure usually does not exceed 179/110 mm.Hg Art. A patient in this category may have 1-2 risk factors:
- heredity,
- Smoke,
- Obesity,
- little physical activity,
- high cholesterol,
- impaired glucose tolerance.
Over 10 years of observation, the development of cardiovascular pathologies is possible in 20% of cases.Changing your normal lifestyle should definitely be included in the list of treatment measures.No medications should be prescribed for 3-6 months in order to give the patient the opportunity to normalize his condition through life changes.
High
The risk group also includes patients with forms 1 and 2 of hypertension, in whom there is a high probability of detecting complications, although they already have several predisposing factors described above.These also include damage to target organs, diabetes mellitus, changes in the retinal vessels, high creatinine levels and arteriosclerosis.
There may be no risk factors, but a patient with stage 3 arterial hypertension also belongs to this patient group.All of them are already being observed by a cardiologist, as high blood pressure usually occurs over the long term.The probability of complications reaches 30%.Lifestyle changes can be used as an adjuvant strategy, but the main component of therapy is medication.The choice of medication must be made in a short time.
Next, we'll talk about a serious diagnosis: stage 3 hypertension, risk 4.
Very large
Patients at highest risk of complications in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels are patients with stage 3 hypertension or stages 1 and 2, if the latter have target organ disorders.This group is one of the smallest.The main treatment is carried out in a hospital.Drug therapy is actively carried out and often includes several groups of drugs.
The chance of developing complications is over 30%.