Almost everyone has experienced increased blood pressure at least once in their life and knows the problems that hypertension causes.However, hypertension is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance.
Severe pressure fluctuations negatively affect the body and a chronic disease, if left untreated, leads to even the most disastrous consequences.Today we will talk about how each stage of hypertension is different and what risks it entails.
Stages of headache
Stage I
The pressure in stage 1 hypertension does not exceed 159/99 mm.Hg Art.Blood pressure can remain in this elevated state for several days.Even normal rest and exclusion of stressful situations significantly help to reduce its indicators.In more severe stages, it is no longer possible to normalize blood pressure as easily.
This stage of the development of hypertension is characterized by the absence of signs that the target organs are affected by high blood pressure, therefore in many cases the course of the disease is practically asymptomatic.Only occasionally do sleep disturbances, headaches or heartaches appear.Clinical examinations may reveal a slight increase in tone at the bottom of the arteries.
Hypertensive crises in form 1 of the disease are very rare and occur mainly under the influence of external circumstances, for example, weather or severe stress.This also usually occurs during menopause in women.The stage of the disease is initial, so it is highly treatable and lifestyle changes are usually sufficient;Drug therapy may not be required.With timely initiation of treatment and conscious implementation of each recommendation, the prognosis is very favorable.
Stage II
The pressure level in stage 2 hypertension is in the range of 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 with exertion, lack of sleep, dizziness and angina pectoris.
The group is distinguished by the appearance of the first signs in the internal organs.Often, this form of damage practically does not affect its functions.There are also no obvious subjective symptoms that bother the patient.Most often, at stage 2 of the development of hypertension, the following is detected:
- characteristic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy;
- increases the amount of creatine in the blood;
- a narrowing of the arteries in the retina occurs;
- The protein is found in the urine.
Hypertensive crises are not uncommon in stage 2 hypertension, which carries the threat of developing very serious complications, including stroke.In this case, it will no longer be possible to do without constant drug treatment.
Stage III
The last stage of hypertension has the most severe course and the most extensive group of disorders in the functioning of a whole 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 pills are taken.Increases in blood pressure to 180/110 mm are not uncommon.Hg Art.and higher.
The symptoms of stage 3 of the disease are in many ways similar to those listed above, but they are also accompanied by rather dangerous signs of the affected organs (for example, kidney failure).Memory often deteriorates, severe heart rhythm disturbances occur, and vision decreases.
The most dangerous thing is that hypertension invariably affects the heart.Muscle contractility and conductivity are almost always affected.Clinical studies also reveal many disorders in other organs.
Hypertension not only has stages 1, 2, 3, but also grades 1, 2, 3, which we will talk about later.
Degrees
I degree
The first degree of severity refers to the mildest, in which periodic increases in blood pressure are observed.Another characteristic of it is that the pressure level is capable of stabilizing itself.The most common cause of stage 1 headaches is constant stress.
second grade
Moderate hypertension is characterized not only by the inability to stabilize blood pressure on its own, 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, we can talk about a malignant course of hypertension.This form is very dangerous because the disease can develop quickly.
III degree
In grade 3 hypertension, the pressure always remains in a stable elevated state.If blood pressure decreases, the person suffers from weakness and other symptoms of internal organs.The changes that occur at this stage of the disease are already irreversible.
In addition, the classification of hypertension includes, in addition to 1, 2, 3 degrees and stages, 1, 2, 3, 4 risks, which we will talk about later.
Risks
low, insignificant
The lowest risk of complications is found in women under 65 years of age and men under 55 years of age who have developed “mild” stage 1 high blood pressure. Over the next 10 years, only about 15% will develop vascular or cardiac pathologies that develop as a result of the disease.These patients are usually treated by general practitioners, since serious treatment by a cardiologist does not make sense.
If there is still a minor risk, patients should try to significantly change their lifestyle in the near future (no more than 6 months).You can be observed by a doctor for longer if the dynamics are positive.If such treatment does not give results and a decrease in blood pressure cannot be achieved, doctors may recommend a change in treatment tactics, which will involve prescribing medications.However, doctors usually insist on leading a healthy lifestyle, because such therapy will not have negative consequences.
Half
This group includes patients with hypertension of both the second and the first type.His blood pressure usually does not exceed 179/110 mm.Hg Art.A patient in this category may have 1-2 risk factors:
- inheritance,
- smoke,
- obesity,
- little physical activity,
- high cholesterol,
- glucose intolerance.
Over 10 years of observation, the development of cardiovascular pathologies is possible in 20% of cases.Modification of the normal lifestyle is necessarily included in the list of treatment measures.For 3 to 6 months, no medications may be prescribed to give the patient the opportunity to normalize their condition through life changes.
High
Patients with forms 1 and 2 of hypertension should also be included in the risk group with a high probability of detecting complications, but if they already have several predisposing factors described above.They also include any damage to target organs, diabetes mellitus, changes in retinal vessels, elevated creatinine levels and atherosclerosis.
There may be no risk factors, but a patient with stage 3 high blood pressure also belongs to this group of patients.All of them are already being observed by a cardiologist, since hypertension is usually long-lasting.The probability of complications reaches 30%.Lifestyle changes can be used as an adjuvant strategy, but the main part of therapy is medication.The selection of medications must be carried out in a short time.
Next we will talk about a serious diagnosis: hypertension stage 3, risk 4.
very high
Patients at increased risk of complications in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels are a group of patients with stage 3 hypertension or stages 1 and 2 if the latter have any target organ disorders.This group is one of the smallest.The main treatment is carried out in a hospital.Pharmacotherapy is carried out actively and often includes several groups of drugs.
The probability of developing complications is more than 30%.