High blood pressure (hypertension) is a disease that still, despite all attempts to study it, holds many secrets. The deterioration of the condition with this pathology can occur at any time, and delay in doing so often entails the most serious consequences. Therefore, people who are prone to increase pressure (and every fifth inhabitant of the Earth can now be considered one) should know what measures should be taken if high pressure does not subside. To do this, there are many proven ways that this article will be devoted to.
What is behind the numbers?
Blood pressure (BP), or rather, its level, is an indicator of the volume of blood flowing to the organs of our body. And the numbers of blood pressure demonstrate the effectiveness of the functioning of the cardiovascular system and help determine the presence of violations in it. And before talking about what to do, if high pressure does not decrease, does not go astray by conventional means, it is worthwhile to understand in more detail the components of this indicator.
The work of the heart is a cyclically changing contractions and relaxation (in medicine - systole and diastole). With a reduction, the volume of cavities in the heart muscle becomes smaller, and blood from them is ejected into the vessels, and during relaxation, on the contrary, it increases, and the cavities are filled with blood.
In the diastole phase (i.e., relaxation), the valve that separates the heart from the vascular system (it is called the aortic valve) closes. This prevents the blood from returning to the heart and forces it to move through the vessels.
How blood moves in our body
In the human body there are several ways of moving blood - these are arteries, veins and capillaries. And often the reason that high blood pressure does not decrease is the particular circulation of a particular person. But how should this be normal?
For blood supplied with oxygen, the arteries coming from the heart serve as conductors. She moves along them with great speed, passing several meters in a second. The walls of the arteries are equipped with muscle fibers, allowing them to change their diameter (increase or decrease the lumen of blood vessels).
Veins pass blood with a low oxygen content, and through them it returns back to the heart. It moves slowly, overcoming only a few centimeters per second. The volume of veins varies depending on the amount of blood accumulated in them.
The smallest vessels of our body are capillaries. Their diameter is sometimes measured in microns, which corresponds to the diameter of blood cells in humans. Through the walls of the capillaries there is an exchange of nutrients and gases between the organs of the body and the blood - this way you can primitively describe the circle of blood circulation in the body.
What do blood pressure indicators depend on?
The way the heart and the entire cardiovascular system works, is primarily reflected in the heart rate and blood pressure levels. It is not in vain in a situation where high blood pressure does not decrease, the doctor draws attention to the patient’s pulse.
A pulse is a jolt of blood that is palpable at the place where the artery is close to the skin of a person. It occurs at the time of contraction of the heart (systole). Moreover, at this moment in the initial section of the aorta (the main artery of the body) a so-called shock wave forms, which is transmitted along the walls of all arteries and which can be detected in the form of vibrations. The pulse rate and its rhythm depend on the number of contractions of the heart.
And now about what affects the numbers of blood pressure.
- Blood pressure depends on the amount of blood circulating in the arteries. The fact is that its total volume is approximately 5 liters, and about 2/3 of its volume simultaneously flows through the vessels. With its decrease, the blood pressure on the walls of the vessels decreases, and with an increase, an increase in pressure can be observed.
- In addition, it is directly dependent on the diameter of the vessels through which the blood moves. The smaller their diameter, the stronger they resist the movement of blood, which means that its pressure on the walls increases.
- Another factor affecting blood pressure is heart rate. The more often the muscle contracts, the more blood pumps, the greater the pressure on the walls of the arteries. By the way, often in such cases, a patient with high blood pressure does not have enough air, which can be considered obvious signs of an increase in heart contractions (tachycardia).
Systolic and diastolic pressure
In medicine, it is customary to talk about two types of blood pressure: systolic (upper) and diastolic (lower). Systolic is the pressure in the artery at the time of contraction of the heart muscle, and diastolic, respectively, at the time of its relaxation. That is, with a pressure considered normal for a healthy adult - 120/80 mm RT. Art., the upper pressure (120) is systolic, and the lower - (80) diastolic.
Does high blood pressure go down? The reasons may lie in the effect on the body of tonic drinks (tea, coffee) or alcohol, as well as physical activity and emotional stress, especially if a person is already over 40 and he has a tendency to hypertension. But, for information, such an increase in pressure is not yet considered pathological, as it is a compensatory, that is, a forced, adaptive reaction of the body to specific stimuli, and, as a rule, it normalizes itself.
What causes hypertension
And hypertension, in contrast to the situation described above, is a persistent increase in blood pressure. As already mentioned, it can provoke both an increase in the volume of blood that pumps the heart, and a narrowing of the diameter of the vessels. And the latter can cause a thickening of their walls, and clogging of cholesterol plaques. But this is only a small part of the causes of hypertension.
This disease can accompany age-related or hormonal changes in the human body, as well as pathology of the internal organs, for example, renal failure. By the way, in these cases, high blood pressure is not reduced by drugs or does not react to their intake weakly. And therefore, doctors with persistent blood pressure, as a rule, refer the patient for an additional examination to determine the true causes of hypertension.
Based on this, it is customary to distinguish between primary hypertension, it is called essential and secondary - symptomatic. The first type of disease, unfortunately, does not have a single cause of occurrence, eliminating which, you can achieve a steady decrease or normalization of pressure. And secondary hypertension completely depends on the specific cause (that is, on an existing disease), its elimination is necessary not only to reduce blood pressure, but also to avoid possible complications.
And if I don’t feel high pressure?
This question is sometimes asked by patients. As a rule, certain symptoms are accompanied by increased symptoms: headache, nausea, sensation of heat in the neck and head, palpitations, lack of air, the appearance of black flies in front of the eyes. At the same time, each patient has his own set of true signs that the pressure has increased.
But there is also a small percentage of hypertensive patients who (especially in the first stages of the disease) do not feel the state change. Therefore, they ask: “What if I don’t feel high pressure?”
In this case, doctors insist on regular monitoring of blood pressure using a tonometer. By the way, every person who has reached the age of 40 should have it. It is necessary to measure pressure regularly, even if you feel good.
Having found that blood pressure is elevated, but your well-being has not changed, you should take a measurement every day. It is advisable at the same time, having previously relaxed, not immediately after eating and following the instructions for use of the tonometer. If a regular increase in pressure is detected, you should immediately contact a therapist for examination and prescription of blood pressure control agents.
Blood Pressure Reducing Drugs
Of course, if high blood pressure does not decrease for several days, this is a serious reason to urgently consult a doctor and begin treatment. Indeed, when diagnosing primary hypertension, you will now have to take medicines regularly, as this is the only sure way to maintain good health.
Drugs that control blood pressure are divided into several types. And pay attention - the doctor prescribes them based on the specific situation. Do not check on yourself the medicine that helped your neighbor! It can be dangerous for you.
- Among drugs that lower blood pressure, diuretics (diuretics) are often used: Furosemide, Veroshpiron, Hydrochlorothioside, etc. But nowadays they are most often prescribed as additional drugs.
- ACE inhibitors: Enap, Kaptopres, Lisinopril, etc. They block the enzyme that causes vasoconstriction, and are usually used once a day.
- Beta-blockers: Anaprilin, Bisoprolol, Carvedilol, etc. They calm the pulse, even out the heart rate and lower blood pressure, but are contraindicated in bronchial asthma and diabetes.
- Alpha-adrenergic blocking agents: "Droxazolin" and others. They are used to urgently lower blood pressure.
In a situation where high blood pressure is not reduced by tablets, intramuscular and intravenous drugs are used. Their action, as a rule, has a more pronounced effect. However, such medicines are used only in special cases and under medical supervision.
Impact on acupuncture points to reduce pressure
With already existing hypertension, as well as with a suddenly detected increase in blood pressure, a situation may arise when it stays firmly on frightening numbers and does not want to fall. High blood pressure does not decrease, what should I do?
Help on acupuncture points. In this case, we are talking about a point under the ear, or rather, under the lobe. Find a recess under it and, slightly pressing the skin, draw a vertical line with your finger from top to bottom, to the middle of the clavicle. This should be done 8-10 times on each side of the neck, and the pressure will decrease.
And at the level of the earlobe, half a centimeter from it towards the nose, find the point that you massage heavily (but not painfully) for 1 minute.
Procedures to help lower high blood pressure
If the increase in blood pressure was preceded by stress or nervous tension, you should lie down comfortably (preferably on a high pillow), unfasten your tight clothes and drink 20 drops of tincture of valerian, motherwort or peony, which will help calm down. In case of painful sensations arising in the heart, it is best to take the Corvalment capsule or Validol tablet.
Unfortunately, the situation is now quite frequent when high pressure does not decrease. What to do if there is no way to immediately seek medical help?
- Doctors advise putting mustard plasters on their calves or lowering their feet in hot water - this will help the blood redistribute to the lower extremities, which will slightly decrease blood pressure (but keep in mind that this advice does not apply to people suffering from varicose veins in their legs).
- Helps to cope with a jump in blood pressure and a salt compress applied to the lower back and back of the head. Heated salt is placed on a folded towel or napkin.
Effective remedies for lowering blood pressure
If high blood pressure does not drop for a long time, a vinegar compress for the legs helps. You should take half a liter of apple cider vinegar and dilute it in an equal amount of water. After that, a towel is lowered into the mixture, squeezed and wrapped legs.
Please note that both feet wrapped should be on the floor. After 10 minutes, the compress can be removed and your feet rinsed with cool water. Apple cider vinegar has an irritating effect, which helps to cause the outflow of blood and thus lower blood pressure. This method is considered very effective.
In addition, in order to reduce pressure, a composition is prepared from tinctures of valerian, hawthorn, motherwort and Valocordin. These funds are poured into one bottle (in equal proportions) and, if necessary, take a teaspoon of this mixture, but after diluting it in 50 ml of drinking water.
What to do if high blood pressure does not decrease?
What to do with a persistent increase in blood pressure, of course, everyone is free to decide for himself. The above tips are tested in such situations and will help you, but do not forget that hypertension is a very insidious disease. It causes not only malaise at the time of increasing pressure, but also can have a negative effect on vision, hearing, the state of the heart and other organs. Not to mention the fact that elevated blood pressure is also a constant risk of stroke, usually ending in disability. Therefore, in a situation where high pressure does not decrease, what should I do? Be sure to consult a doctor! This will save you from many troubles. Be healthy!