There is still no consensus in medicine about whether hypotension is a disease. Some believe that since hypotension (also called hypotension) has a whole range of symptoms, it can very well be defined as a separate disease, while others prefer to consider it a physiological feature of the body.
Today we will find out how it manifests itself and what causes arterial hypotension, what this disease is and how it is treated.
Who suffers from arterial hypotension
Hypotension is considered a prolonged condition in which the upper (systolic) pressure does not rise above 90 mm Hg. Art., and the lower (diastolic) - 60 mm RT. Art.
Women from 30 to 40 years old, however, sometimes even younger (usually people engaged in mental work), more often than men, are diagnosed with hypotension.
The reasons for lowering the pressure sometimes lie in the peculiarities of the body's adaptation to new climatic conditions, in constant overload (for example, in athletes), and in some cases hypotension can act as a manifestation of an allergic reaction.
Is hypotension dangerous?
And although, for example, against the background of hypertension, hypotension seems to be a fairly harmless disruption of the blood vessels, nevertheless it causes great inconvenience and interferes with a full life. In addition, hypotension can lead to serious disturbances in the work of other body systems. Therefore, the treatment of this ailment must be carried out under the supervision of a cardiologist.
Who has hypotension is not considered a disease
Some practically healthy people have a constant low level of pressure, which is considered physiological in medicine. As a rule, these individuals differ only in that their venous vessels have a reduced tone. The total capacity of these vessels in comparison with the arteries is greater, which means that some of the circulating blood in them can be delayed, because of which its return to the heart is late and thus reduces cardiac output.
Being mostly healthy, people with a tendency to antihypertensive reactions tolerate heat worse than cold. Often, when trying to stand up sharply, they may darken in the eyes, but walking and muscle activity significantly improve their well-being.
Symptoms of Arterial Hypotension
The peculiarity of hypotension is manifested in the fact that the objective state of the body often does not confirm the presence of
poor health in the patient. The objective symptoms of the disease include only a decrease in pressure and vegetative signs: sweating of the feet and hands, pallor and low body temperature (up to 36 ° C). But the person at the same time feels overwhelmed and sick.
The subjective symptoms of arterial hypotension described by patients are lethargy, weakness, bad mood, irritability. A person affected by an illness may worsen memory, impaired ability to concentrate. A person becomes distracted, emotionally unstable, annoyed by loud speech and bright light. The main symptom of a pressure disorder is headache and dizziness.
By the way, a headache in this case can be caused by prolonged stress, and plentiful food, and weather changes. In women with hypotension, a menstrual cycle is often disturbed, moreover, they are usually painful and weak, and in men, low blood pressure is accompanied by a decrease in potency.
Intracranial hypotension - what is it?
Hypotension can be primary, that is, hereditary, or secondary - appear as a result of a number of diseases (anemia, peptic ulcer, liver cirrhosis, tuberculosis) or medication.
For example, intracranial hypotension is secondary and is caused by a bruise or concussion, cerebrospinal fluid (expiration or decreased secretion of cerebrospinal fluid).
The patient feels lethargy, nausea, dizziness and general exhaustion. Fog appears before the eyes, vomiting may occur. True, arterial hypotension is often characterized by all these signs. Symptoms characteristic of intracranial pathology are increased parietal or temporal pain when trying to turn the head from side to side or tilt it.
If intracranial hypotension is caused by cerebrospinal fluid, then the risk factor increases, since an infection can enter the cranial cavity, and this can cause, in turn, meningitis or meningoencephalitis.
How does orthostatic hypotension occur?
Postural or, in other words, orthostatic hypotension, the causes of which we will now consider, is also secondary and is accompanied by a sharp decrease in pressure at the moment when a person tries to quickly rise from horizontal to vertical position.
This phenomenon is due to several reasons:
- the inability of blood vessels to maintain normal blood pressure;
- taking diuretics or other medications;
- the presence of diabetes;
- addiction to alcohol;
- various diseases of the spinal cord.
Orthostatic hypotension is characterized by general weakness, heart palpitations, the patient, as a rule, darkens in the eyes and is very dizzy. In addition, nausea, sweating and chills appear. All these signs intensify as soon as the patient rises. With the development of this pathology, attempts to rise sharply can be accompanied by fainting.
Hypotension Treatment
In the treatment of secondary hypotension, as a rule, special attention is paid to the underlying disease, which, in turn, leads to normalization of pressure and improvement of well-being.
The main drugs for hypotension are common caffeine-stimulating medicines. In addition, the patient is recommended to avoid exposure to high and low temperatures, increase sleep duration to 10-12 hours and eat fully - at least 4 times a day.
At low pressure, massage and contrast showers have a good effect. Unlike hypertensive patients, patients with hypotension are encouraged to increase the amount of salt consumed, since the sodium in its composition increases the amount of fluid in the body and increases blood pressure.
From folk remedies to improve the condition, it is proposed to take ginseng tincture (up to 20 drops) twice a day before meals, lemongrass tincture (the same amount per tablespoon of water, half an hour before meals). Well-known tinctures and decoctions of the immortelle, lure and extract of Leuzea.
What else is useful for hypotension
Hypotonic is useful to drink tonic drinks - tea and coffee. True, we must remember that this is not about ten cups a day, but about a portion of strong well-brewed coffee in the morning - then it will bring not only pleasure, but also benefit.
It is necessary to remember when there is a diagnosis such as hypotension, that this is an ailment in which you need to properly organize your sleep. Not only its duration is important, but also how and on what you sleep. The headboard should never be low. Choose a mattress of medium hardness. Waking up, lie down a bit, stretch carefully, and only then rise. So you will avoid the attack of orthostatic hypotension, which we wrote about above.
And know that it’s very useful for a person prone to lowering pressure to have hobbies and activities that create a positive attitude. The feeling that you are surrounded by loving and beloved people, a full-fledged sexual life, interesting work will help you cope not only with hypotension, but also with many cardiovascular diseases.