Risk factors for high blood pressure can vary depending on the type of disease. There are two types: primary or essential and secondary hypertension. The first type occurs more often than the second - it is diagnosed in 95% of hypertensive patients, and its development is associated with three groups of factors: general condition of the body, lifestyle and genetics. transmit. Secondary hypertension affects 5% of patients, and risk factors for its development are various pathologies of specific organs. Some factors can be controlled, reducing the risk of developing the disease.
Risk factors for primary hypertension
Idiopathic arterial hypertension is a multifactorial disease; In some cases, the exact cause of increased pressure cannot be determined. The danger of this disease lies in the fact that its symptoms do not appear immediately - the causes can cause a gradual, imperceptible deterioration of health. Furthermore, even in its latent state, hypertension increases the risk of developing myocardial infarction and stroke.
Health condition
One of the causes of hypertension is due to a decrease in the elasticity of arterioles - small arteries that carry blood to capillaries. The condition of the vessel walls is influenced by several factors:
- body aging;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- genetic;
- inflammatory process in tissues.
The composition of blood is also important for vascular health. Weakness of the circulatory system is mainly associated with diabetes. Blood sugar levels are regulated by insulin, a pancreatic hormone. If its secretion is reduced or it cannot perform its functions normally, the blood vessels will be more stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system than dilate under the influence of insulin, leading to increasedblood pressure.
In addition to the condition of blood vessels, the risk of hypertension is also affected by body weight. Obesity causes the body to need more blood, increasing the load on the heart and blood vessels. According to statistics, 85% of people with this disease have a body mass index higher than normal. If obesity is combined with diabetes, this indicates a more complex metabolic syndrome - a metabolic disease in which damage to vessel walls by cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose can lead todevelopment of atherosclerosis.
A risk factor for developing high blood pressure is also sleep apnea - stopping breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep. This happens with severe snoring, when the airways are completely blocked due to pathology of their structure or other reasons. Each cessation of breathing is a strong stress on the body, and the pressure increases by 200–250 mmHg. Art. Frequent attacks lead to chronic arterial hypertension.
Lifestyle
Poor lifestyle is the group of risk factors that are easiest to control to prevent the onset of the disease. Including:
- unhealthy diet, leading to salt imbalance in the body;
- lack of physical activity;
- smoke;
- alcohol abuse;
- chronic stress.
Consuming too much salt is a common symptom of most people with arterial hypertension; Risk factors for this include increased sodium levels and low potassium levels. Salt affects pressure on both sides: they cause constriction of blood vessels and water retention in the body. As a result, both the volume of blood and its pressure on the arterial walls increase. To avoid this, you need to eat no more than 5. 8 g of salt per day.
A sedentary lifestyle doesn't just lead to obesity. With lack of activity, arrhythmia develops - the heart weakens, and in order to pump blood in the necessary quantity, the heart must beat more often, which increases the load on the entire cardiovascular system. During exercise, hormones are produced that strengthen the heart muscle and relax blood vessels, leading to a decrease in blood pressure.
Tobacco increases blood pressure regardless of whether it is smoked, chewed or snorted. The chemicals with which it is impregnated destroy blood vessels. Nicotine has a complex effect on the circulatory system - it increases the heart rate, increases the load on blood vessels and narrows the lumen of the arteries. E-cigarettes do not save you from this negative effect, although without the carbon monoxide produced during cigarette burning entering the bloodstream, blood vessels will still be healthier.
Alcohol destroys the heart muscle, leading to increased blood pressure. Women are recommended to drink no more than 0. 5 liters of drinks with a 5% alcohol content per day, men - no more than 1 liter before the age of 65 and no more than 0. 5 liters - after the age of 65.
Stress causes disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system and leads to a complex deterioration in the body's functioning, including this affects blood pressure. In addition, it is the basis for the emergence of bad habits - overeating, smoking and alcoholism, which directly increase the risk of developing arterial hypertension.
Genetic
Family history is especially important when diagnosing hypertension; Risk factors are, as a rule, general environmental (ecological circumstances in which the family lives) and behavioral (lifestyle factors capable of being transmitted from parents to children), but mainlyWeakness is genetic. Heredity is considered the main factor leading to the development of arterial hypertension: there are genes that cause an increase in the synthesis of renin, a hormone in the kidneys that increases blood pressure.
Hypertension is linked to genetics in 30% of cases, so it is important to follow family history and note all diseases diagnosed in relatives (parents, siblings, grandparents). Mrs) - this will help assess the risk of developing pathology and prevent it. If there are risks, you need to control your lifestyle even more carefully.
Knowing all these factors, it is possible to prevent hypertension by monitoring the development of prehypertension, a condition in which blood pressure is on the border between normal and dangerous levels.
| Status | Pressure value (mmHg) | |
|---|---|---|
| Systolic | diastolic | |
| quota | 120 | 80 |
| Prehypertension | 120–139 | 80–89 |
| hypertension | >140 | >90 |
To promptly detect the disease if you are at risk or monitor your health status when you have high blood pressure, you should measure your blood pressure twice a day: in the morning and in the evening, as well as when you go to the doctor. feels unsettled.
Risk factors for secondary hypertension
If primary hypertension develops based on a general deterioration of the body and especially the circulatory system, then risk factors for the development of secondary hypertension are specific diseases of the kidneys, endocrine glandssecretion and cardiovascular system.
Kidney disease
The main kidney pathology leading to hypertension is decreased renal artery lumen. It can be congenital or develop at an older age. The main reasons for the endogenous development of pathology:
- thickening of the smooth muscles of the arteries - occurs in young women;
- Atherosclerosis - in old age.
Due to this disease, blood flow to the kidneys is poor, leading to increased secretion of renin and angiotensin. Together with the adrenal hormone aldosterone, they lead to increased vascular tone and increased blood pressure. To treat the pathology, the vessel is mechanically expanded and reinforced with a scaffold.
In addition, changes in hormone levels can be influenced by chronic pathological processes in the kidneys - pyelonephritis, stone formation in the bladder, etc. v. The opposite reaction is also possible - increased blood pressure leads to diseases of the urinary system.
Adrenal tumor
Sometimes, diseases of the adrenal glands lead to increased arterial tone. These include the development of tumors that increase hormone production:
- Aldosterome - produces aldosterone. In addition to increased blood pressure, this also leads to increased excretion of potassium from the body.
- Pheochromocytoma—produces adrenaline, increases heart rate, leading to increased blood pressure. Other symptoms are hot flashes, skin flushing, and increased sweating.
In both cases, treatment includes adrenalectomy.
Thyroid dysfunction
In the case of secondary hypertension, risk factors may be certain thyroid diseases: diffuse goiter, nodular goiter. They lead to thyrotoxicosis - an increase in the production of thyroid hormones. These biologically active substances regulate metabolism in the body; When they are in excess, heart rate increases, leading to increased blood pressure.
Use medicine
In addition to disease, secondary hypertension can be caused by the use of many other drugs and substances. Including:
- Antidepressants;
- drops and sprays for rhinitis;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- oral contraceptives;
- corticosteroids;
- narcotics - cocaine, amphetamine;
- hematopoietic stimulant;
- asthma medication;
- Antihypertensive drugs - when discontinued, may cause a sharp increase in blood pressure.
If your hypertension is caused by medication, you should consult your doctor and replace the medications you are taking with similar medications with fewer side effects.
Other risks of developing the disease
There are othersrisk factors for high blood pressure. Unlike diseases and lifestyle choices, they cannot be eliminated or controlled.
One such factor is race. Research shows that arterial hypertension is more common and develops earlier in blacks than in whites, Hispanics, Asians, and others.
A person's gender also influences - men are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure, especially in adulthood and older age. Women are at risk during menopause and during pregnancy. The risk increases with age in both sexes. If at the age of 29, the chance of getting the disease does not exceed 10%, then at the age of 60–69 this rate reaches 50%.
Most of the world's population is exposed to risk factors for hypertension at one time or another in their lives. In the United States, according to research, 9 out of 10 people suffer from this disease sooner or later, and in most cases this is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. Breaking bad habits, getting regular checkups with your doctor, and monitoring your blood pressure are the best ways to stay safe.