What is hypertension?

According to WHO (World Health Organization), one speaks of limit hypertension when you have blood pressure below 140 mmHg / 90 mmHg in the normal range. For diastolic blood pressure values (lower blood pressure value) by 91 – 95 mmHg and systolic (upper blood pressure value) to 141 – 160 mmHg.

A clear arterial hypertension (blood pressure) occurs when the diastolic blood pressure values lies over 95 mmHg and / or systolic blood pressure exceeds 160 mmHg. It does not matter whether either values or only the upper or lower value is increased.

An elevated blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart, circulatory diseases (heart and vessels by the increased pressure increasingly burdened) and should therefore necessarily be treated!

The devices with the blood pressure values indicated are measured in mmHg (millimeters of mercury column). The upper (systololische) blood pressure value occurs when the heart contracts (systole) and the blood in the arteries expresses. The lower value of blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure value) is, if the heart is relaxed (diastole) and the heart chambers to fill with blood again.

Cause is often unclear.

In approximately 90% the actual cause for the elevated blood pressure is not known. One speaks of essential hypertension. With approximately 10% is an underlying disease before (kidney, heart, circulatory disorders, pregnancy, hormonal disorders, medications, etc.).

Symptoms

Many patients with hypertension show no symptoms, so the increased blood pressure values often accidentally detected during a routine inspection.

The following symptoms may be evidence of a blood pressure type:

* Headache especially when waking up
* Dizziness (storage-independent)
* Palpitations, anxiety in the cardiac region
* Breathing with exertion
* Nervousness, concentration disturbances
* Visual disturbances
* Potency and libido disorders
* Nosebleeds

Diagnosis With Blood Pressure Measurements

The diagnosis of hypertension is confirmed by asked repeated measurement of blood pressure at rest. Frequently, even blood pressure measurements over 24 hours. This course allows a better statement about the behavior of blood pressure.

Blood tests and possibly further investigations (ECG, Thoraxrönten, ultrasound, etc.) to help exclude rarer causes of hypertension as well as information about a possibly injury to the heart and maintaining circulation.

Therapy

In most cases, the exact cause of high blood pressure is not identified (essential hypertension) and it must be with medication and changes in lifestyle will seek to normalize blood pressure.

General measures

* Stress reduction (relaxation methods such as autogenic training)
* Adequate night’s sleep
* Stop smoking
* Restrict salt intake
* Weight

Major drug groups, which are applied

* Diuretics
* ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II inhibitors
* Beta blockers
* Calcium antagonist

Favorable Prognosis For Treatment

An untreated hypertension burdened the heart and blood vessels.

Besides injury to the heart (Coronary heart disease) and to the vessels (atherosclerosis) it may also lead to kidney, brain damage (stroke, insult), and eye damage (retinal) can occur.

For treatment of hypertension, the prognosis is favorable, for example it may be a cardiac enlargement and congestive heart failure back form.