Almost everyone has experienced an increase in blood pressure at least once in their life and knows how many problems hypertension causes.However, hypertension is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance.
Severe fluctuations in pressure negatively affect the body, and a chronic disease, if not treated, leads to even the most disastrous consequences.Today we will talk about how each stage of hypertension differs and what risks it entails.
Headache stages
Phase I
Pressure in stage 1 hypertension does not exceed 159/99 mm.Hg Art.Blood pressure can remain in this elevated state for several days.Ordinary rest and the exclusion of stressful situations also significantly contribute to reducing its indicators.In more severe stages it is no longer possible to normalize blood pressure so easily.
This stage of the development of hypertension is characterized by the absence of any signs that the target organs are affected by hypertension, therefore in many cases the course of the disease is practically asymptomatic.Only occasionally do sleep disturbances, head or heart pain appear.Clinical examinations may reveal a slight increase in the tone of the fundus 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 conditions or strong stress.This also often happens during menopause in women.The stage of the disease is early, so it is highly treatable and lifestyle changes are often sufficient;drug therapy may not be necessary.With the timely start of treatment and conscious implementation of each recommendation, the prognosis is very favorable.
Phase II
The pressure level at stage 2 of hypertension is within 179 mm.Hg Art.(diastolic) and up to 109 mm.Hg Art.(systolic).Rest is no longer able to normalize blood pressure.The patient often suffers from pain, shortness of breath during exertion, poor sleep, dizziness and angina.
The group is distinguished by the appearance of the first signs from the internal organs.Often this form of damage has virtually no effect on their functions.Furthermore, there are no obvious subjective symptoms that disturb the patient.Most often, at stage 2 of the development of hypertension, the following are detected:
- characteristic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy;
- increases the amount of creatine in the blood;
- narrowing of the arteries occurs in the retina;
- Proteins are found in 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 cope without constant drug therapy.
Phase III
The last stage of hypertension has the most severe course and has the largest 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 you take pills.Increases in blood pressure up to 180/110 mm are not uncommon.Hg Art.and higher.
Symptoms of stage 3 of the disease are in many ways similar to those listed above, but are also accompanied by rather dangerous signs of the affected organs (for example, kidney failure).Memory often deteriorates, severe heart rhythm disorders occur, and vision decreases.
The most dangerous thing is that hypertension invariably affects the heart.Muscle contractility and conductivity are almost always compromised.Clinical studies also reveal many disorders in other organs.
Hypertension has not only stages 1, 2, 3, but also grades 1, 2, 3, which we will talk about later.
Degrees
I graduate
The first degree of severity refers to the mildest, in which periodic spikes in blood pressure are observed.Another feature is that the pressure level is able to stabilize itself.The most common cause of stage 1 headaches is constant stress.
II degree
Moderate hypertension is characterized not only by the impossibility of independent stabilization of blood pressure, but also by the fact that the periods of normal pressure are very short.The main manifestation is a severe headache.
If the disease develops very quickly, we can talk about a malignant course of hypertension.This form is very dangerous, since the disease can develop quickly.
III degree
With grade 3 hypertension, the pressure always remains stable and elevated.If blood pressure drops, the person is afflicted with weakness and a number of other symptoms of the 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 and men under 55 who have developed “mild” stage 1 high blood pressure. Over the next 10 years, only about 15% will develop vascular or heart disease that develops as a result of the disease.Such patients are often managed by general practitioners, since serious treatment by a cardiologist makes no sense.
If a minor risk is still present, patients should try to significantly change their lifestyle in the near future (no more than 6 months).If the dynamics are positive, he can be kept under observation by the doctor for some more time.If such treatment does not bring results and it is not possible to achieve a decrease in blood pressure, doctors may recommend a change in treatment tactics, which will involve prescribing medications.However, doctors often insist on leading a healthy lifestyle, because such therapy will not have negative consequences.
Medium
This group includes patients with hypertension of both the second and first types.Their blood pressure usually does not exceed 179/110 mm.Hg Art.A patient in this category may have 1-2 risk factors:
- inheritance,
- smoking,
- obesity,
- little physical activity,
- high cholesterol,
- reduced glucose tolerance.
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 therapeutic measures.For 3-6 months, medications may not be prescribed to give the patient a chance to normalize their condition through life changes.
High
Patients with forms of hypertension 1 and 2 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 possible damage to target organs, diabetes mellitus, changes in retinal vessels, high creatinine levels and atherosclerosis.
There may be no risk factors, but a patient with stage 3 arterial hypertension also belongs to this group of patients. Everyone is already observed by a cardiologist, since hypertension is mostly long-term.The probability of complications reaches 30%.Lifestyle changes can be used as an adjuvant strategy, but the main part of therapy is medications.The choice of drugs must be made in a short time.
Next we will talk about a serious diagnosis: stage 3 hypertension, risk 4.
Very tall
Patients with the highest 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 target organ disorders.This group is one of the smallest.The main treatment is carried out in hospital.Drug therapy is actively carried out and often includes several groups of drugs.
The probability of developing complications is greater than 30%.