Almost everyone has had high blood pressure at least once in their life and knows how much trouble it causes.However, hypertension is not as harmless as it seems at first glance.
Severe fluctuations in pressure will negatively affect the body, and an untreated chronic disease can lead to even the most disastrous consequences.Today we will talk about how each stage of hypertension is different and the risks it carries.
Headache stages
Phase I
Blood 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.Even normal rest and the exclusion of stressful situations help to significantly reduce its indicators.In more severe stages, blood pressure can no longer be normalized easily.
This stage of the development of hypertension is characterized by the absence of any signs that target organs are affected by high blood pressure, therefore, in many cases, the disease is practically asymptomatic.Only occasionally do sleep disorders, headaches or heart attacks occur.Clinical examination may reveal mildly increased tone at the base of the artery.
Hypertensive attacks in type 1 of the disease are rare and occur mainly under the influence of external circumstances, such as weather or severe stress.This also commonly occurs during menopause in women.The stage of the disease is in the early stages so the possibility of treatment is high and often only lifestyle changes are enough;Medical treatment may not be necessary.With timely initiation of treatment and conscious implementation of each recommendation, the prognosis will be very favorable.
Phase II
Pressure levels in stage 2 of hypertension range up to 179 mm.Hg Art.(diastolic) and up to 109 mm.Hg Art.(systole).Rest can no longer normalize blood pressure.Patients often experience pain, difficulty breathing on exertion, poor sleep, dizziness and angina.
The group is distinguished by the appearance of the first signs from the internal organs.Normally this type of damage hardly affects their function.There are also no obvious subjective symptoms that bother the patient.Usually, at stage 2 of the development of hypertension, the following are detected:
- characteristic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy;
- The amount of creatine in the blood increases;
- narrowing of the arteries occurs in the retina;
- Protein is found in urine.
Hypertensive crises are not uncommon in stage 2 hypertension, carrying with them the risk of developing very serious complications, including stroke.In this case, it will not be possible to control it without continuous drug treatment.
Phase III
The final stage of hypertension has the most severe progression and has the most serious disorders in the functioning of an entire group of target organs.The kidneys, eyes, brain, blood vessels and heart suffer the most.Blood pressure is persistent and it is quite difficult to normalize its level even if you take medication.Hypertension to 180/110 mm is not uncommon.Hg Art.and higher.
Symptoms of stage 3 disease have many similarities to the symptoms mentioned above but are also accompanied by quite dangerous signs from the affected organs (for example, kidney failure).Memory is often impaired, heart rhythm disorders are severe, and vision is reduced.
The most dangerous thing is that high blood pressure always affects the heart.The ability of muscles to contract and conduct electricity is almost always impaired.Clinical studies also show many disorders in other organs.
Hypertension not only has stages 1, 2, 3 but also stages 1, 2, 3 which we will talk about later.
Degree
I degree
The first level of severity refers to the mildest level, in which blood pressure increases periodically.Another feature of it is that the pressure level can stabilize itself.The most common cause of stage 1 headaches is ongoing stress.
level II
Moderate hypertension is characterized not only by the inability to independently stabilize blood pressure, but also by the fact that the period of normal pressure is very short.The main symptom is severe headache.
If the disease develops very quickly, we can talk about an episode of malignant hypertension.This form is very dangerous because the disease can develop quickly.
level III
With stage 3 hypertension, blood pressure always remains in a stable elevated state.If blood pressure drops, the patient will experience weakness as well as some other symptoms from internal organs.The changes that occur at this stage of the disease are irreversible.
In addition, the classification of hypertension includes, in addition to 1, 2, 3 degrees and stages, there are also 1, 2, 3, 4 risks that we will talk about later.
Risk
Low, insignificant
The lowest risk of complications is found in women under 65 and men under 55 with stage 1 “mild” arterial hypertension. Over the next 10 years, only about 15% will develop vascular or heart problems that develop as a result of the disease.Such patients are usually managed by general practitioners, as serious treatment by a cardiologist would not be helpful.
If a small risk remains, patients should attempt to make significant lifestyle changes in the near future (no more than 6 months).He may be monitored by a doctor for a while longer if the motivation is positive.If such treatment does not bring results and it is not possible to reduce blood pressure, doctors may recommend changing treatment tactics, which will require prescribing medication.However, doctors often insist on a healthy lifestyle, because such therapy will not cause any negative consequences.
Medium
This group includes patients with both second and first type hypertension.Their blood pressure usually does not exceed 179/110 mm.Hg Art.A patient of this type may have 1-2 risk factors:
- hereditary,
- smoke,
- obesity,
- less physical activity,
- high cholesterol,
- impaired glucose tolerance.
Over 10 years of observation, 20% of cases may develop cardiovascular diseases.Modification of normal lifestyle must necessarily be included in the list of treatment measures.For 3-6 months, medication may not be prescribed to give the patient a chance to normalize the condition through life changes.
High
Patients with types 1 and 2 hypertension should also be included in the risk group with a high likelihood of detecting complications, but if they already have some of the risk factors described above.They also include any damage to target organs, diabetes mellitus, retinal vascular changes, high creatinine levels, and atherosclerosis.
There may be no risk factors, but patients with stage 3 arterial hypertension also belong to this group of patients.All of them were observed by a cardiologist, as the hypertension was mostly long-term.The probability of complications reaches 30%.Lifestyle changes can be used as an adjunctive strategy, but the main part 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, risk 4 hypertension.
Very high
Patients at highest risk of complications in heart and vascular function are those with grade 3 or grade 1 and 2 hypertension if any end-organ disorders develop later.This group is one of the smallest.The main treatment is carried out in the hospital.Drug treatment is carried out aggressively and usually includes several groups of drugs.
The probability of developing complications is more than 30%.