Arterial hypertension is a continuous or sustained increase in blood pressure levels. In Cardiology, a person is considered to be hypertensive when he/she presents figures above 140/90 mmHg in several measurements taken at different times. The heart exerts pressure on the arteries so that they carry blood to the different organs of the human body. This action is known as blood pressure.
Causes of high blood pressure
Arterial hypertension is caused by an increase in the stiffness of the arteries, generated by different factors, and this finally ends up damaging the heart and other important organs such as the brain and the kidney.
Complications of arterial hypertension
With the development of hypertrophy at the level of the cardiac muscle, it becomes more irritable and more arrhythmias occur. In patients who have already had a cardiovascular problem, hypertension can intensify the damage.
In addition, hypertension favors the development of arteriosclerosis (accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries) and the phenomena of thrombosis (which can lead to myocardial infarction or cerebral infarction). In the most severe case, arterial hypertension can cause softening of the walls of the aorta and lead to its dilatation (aneurysm) or rupture, causing death.
Symptoms of arterial hypertension
The symptoms are very variable, hypertension can be from a silent enemy in asymptomatic patients, to present aortic dilatation causing sudden death by aortic dissection of the patient. However, the most frequent symptom is usually headache.
Arterial hypertension: patient profile
Hypertension is generally associated with age, being more frequent after 50 years of age. On the other hand, patients with heart disease, valvular heart disease or patients with renal insufficiency are more likely to have elevated blood pressure.
Diagnosis of hypertension
The diagnosis of hypertension is based on a simple measurement procedure, although some cases require other tests such as Holter blood pressure monitoring. It is essential to complete the test with a laboratory analysis, both blood and urine, as well as an electrocardiogram. It is very important to keep in mind that hypertension can be asymptomatic and go unnoticed. It is more frequent after the age of 40, although it can appear at any age, and there is a family predisposition, although it also occurs in people with no history of hypertension.
Treatment of arterial hypertension
The best treatment for hypertension is to prevent it from appearing. For this it is essential to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle, eliminating tobacco consumption, performing at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic exercise that allows weight control and avoiding excessive salt intake in the diet.
When all this fails, medical treatment with drugs, either in monotherapy or by combining several active ingredients, is necessary.