Facts About Hypertension | cdc.gov

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body.

Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can damage your heart and cause health problems if it stays high for a long time. Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is blood pressure that is higher than normal.

Facts About Hypertension in the United States

In 2017, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association published new guidelines for hypertension management and defined high hypertension as a blood pressure at or above 130/80 mmHg. Stage 2 hypertension is defined as a blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmHg. ¹

• Having hypertension puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. ²
• In 2021, hypertension was a primary or contributing cause of 691,095 deaths in the United States.²
• Nearly half of adults in the United States (47%, or 116 million) have hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg or are taking medication for hypertension.³
• Only about 1 in 4 adults (24%) with hypertension have their condition under control.³
• About half of adults (45%) with uncontrolled hypertension have a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher. This includes 37 million U.S. adults. ³
• About 34 million adults who are recommended to take medication may need it to be prescribed and to start taking it. Almost two out of three of this group (19 million) have a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher.³
• High blood pressure costs the United States about $131 billion each year, averaged over 12 years from 2003 to 2014. ⁴

Rates of High Blood Pressure Control Vary by Sex and Race

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is common; however, certain groups of people are more likely to have control over their high blood pressure than others.

• A greater percentage of men (50%) have high blood pressure than women (44%).³
• High blood pressure is more common in non-Hispanic black adults (56%) than in non-Hispanic white adults (48%), non-Hispanic Asian adults (46%), or Hispanic adults (39%).³
• Among those recommended to take blood pressure medication, blood pressure control is higher among non-Hispanic white adults (32%) than in non-Hispanic black adults (25%), non-Hispanic Asian adults (19%), or Hispanic adults (25%).³

Rates of High Blood Pressure Vary by Geography

High blood pressure is more common in some areas of the United States than in others. Below is a map showing the self-reported rate of hypertension by county. However, this map likely underreports the true effect of hypertension in each state, because about 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure is unaware of it and would not report having it.⁵

The map shows that concentrations of counties with the highest hypertension prevalence – meaning the top quintile – are located primarily in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maine, and Michigan. Pockets of high-rate counties also were found in Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Missouri.

Source: Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke

CDC’s Public Health Efforts Related to High Blood Pressure

• Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke – State Programs (State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Chronic Diseases)
• Million Hearts^®
• WISEWOMAN

Learn More About Hypertension

For more information about high blood pressure, visit the following websites:

• Medline Plus
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• American Heart Association

References

1. Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, Casey DE, Collins KJ, Dennison C, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. Hypertension. 2018;71(19):e13–115.
2. National Center for Health Statistics. Multiple Cause of Death 2018–2021 on CDC WONDER Database. Accessed February 2, 2023.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hypertension Cascade: Hypertension Prevalence, Treatment and Control Estimates Among U.S. Adults Aged 18 Years and Older Applying the Criteria from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association’s 2017 Hypertension Guideline—NHANES 2015–2018. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2021. Accessed March 12, 2021.
4. Kirkland EB, Heincelman M, Bishu KG, et. al. Trends in healthcare expenditures among US adults with hypertension: national estimates, 2003-2014. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7:e008731.
5. Farley TA, Dalal MA, Mostashari F, Frieden TR. Deaths preventable in the U. S. by improvements in the use of clinical preventive services. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38(6):600–609.

Why High Blood Pressure is a “Silent Killer”

High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer”

Most of the time, high blood pressure, or hypertension, has no obvious symptoms to indicate that something is wrong. The best ways to protect yourself are being aware of the risks and making changes that matter.

A few facts to be aware of:

• Many people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it. Often the signs and symptoms are misunderstood.
• High blood pressure develops slowly over time and can be related to many causes.
• High blood pressure cannot be cured. But it can be managed effectively through lifestyle changes and, when needed, medication.

Know your numbers

Know where you stand by measuring your blood pressure.

Download this chart: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Traditional Chinese (PDF)

Recognize your risks

Be aware of your risk factors – the physical and lifestyle attributes that can make you more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Awareness of your risks can help you identify positive changes that you can make. Do all you can to avoid the serious problems that can result from your blood pressure being too high for too long.

Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisors. See our editorial policies and staff.

Last Reviewed: May 31, 2023

degrees and symptoms to be aware of

Hypertension is often asymptomatic and is detected already in the second stage, when the blood vessels, heart and kidneys are affected. How to recognize it in time and what to do in case of sudden anxiety conditions – read our article.

What can be the pressure in hypertension

Arterial hypertension is diagnosed with a persistent rise in systolic pressure above 139 mm Hg. column or persistent rise in diastolic pressure above 89mm. rt. Art. If at rest such numbers are registered twice or more, this is a clear symptom of the disease and a reason to consult a cardiologist.

There are three degrees of hypertension – depending on the level of blood pressure:

In the first degree, it is possible to reduce pressure without medication, if you consult a doctor in time and change your lifestyle.

With the second degree of arterial hypertension, lifestyle correction and prescription of drugs are mandatory. At pressures above 160/100 mm Hg. Art. blood vessels, heart and kidneys work in the maximum load mode – this is fraught with hypertensive crises, heart and kidney failure.

Pressure above 180/110 mm Hg. Art. – a direct risk of heart attack and stroke, with this degree of the disease, combination therapy with several drugs is prescribed.

How to suspect hypertension

To detect the symptoms of the disease in time, people over 40 years old, as well as everyone who suffers from chronic heart disease, are advised to measure their blood pressure daily, at least once a day. You need to do this at the same time of the day, being in a calm state. After physical, emotional stress, smoking and drinking coffee, at least half an hour should pass. In the cold season, before measuring pressure, you need to stay 10 minutes in a warm room.

According to the recommendation of the European Society for Arterial Hypertension, at a doctor’s appointment, blood pressure should be measured three times, with an interval of 1-2 minutes. This helps to reveal the hidden course of the disease or to determine “white coat hypertension” – an unreasonable increase in pressure in a hospital setting.

When pressure must be measured

• Regular headaches.

• Sudden palpitation at rest (in the absence of exercise, stress and negative thoughts).

• Continuous arrhythmia (heart rhythm failure).

• Shortness of breath.

• Prolonged pain in the chest (particularly in front of the breastbone), which is aggravated by physical exertion.

• Buzzing in the ears and head, especially when combined with sensation of pain in the pinna.

• Panic attack – a state of inexplicable panic for no apparent reason, often accompanied by arrhythmia, palpitations, a feeling of heat, chills, or their alternate change, may be a sign of a hypertensive crisis.

• Combination of any of these symptoms with dizziness or epistaxis.

The listed signs can indicate hypertension at any age, as well as a hidden increase in pressure.

Arterial hypertension – signs and symptoms emergency

• Chest pain, especially burning, pressing or dagger, and also radiating to the shoulder or jaw, is a possible sign that there is not enough oxygen supplied to the heart and part of the heart muscle may die, causing a heart attack.

• Numbness of limbs or loss of their mobility (complete or partial).

• Loss of visual fields, disruption of coherent speech, facial asymmetry is one of the main signs of a stroke.

• Loss of orientation in space or sudden memory lapses – both can be a sign of insufficient blood supply to the brain, which also leads to a stroke.

For any of these symptoms, you need to call an ambulance

Things to do before the doctor arrives:

• to provide the patient with immobility, if possible, calm emotionally;

• help to assume a comfortable posture – for example, half-sitting or with a raised head;

• open a window, ventilate the room for fresh air access – stuffiness is harmful due to lack of oxygen.

What not to do with anxiety symptoms:

• make the patient walk around the room, go down the stairs – with a heart attack, even a few steps can be a critical load;

• give pills, tea, coffee – until there is an exact diagnosis, any medications and caffeine can harm;

• allow the patient to smoke – nicotine further increases blood pressure and constricts blood vessels.

Important: “catching” hypertension at an early stage and taking action in time is much easier than dealing with a critical condition.

Hypertension – Treatment in the multidisciplinary family clinic “K medicine”

Hypertension is a disease characterized by a persistent and prolonged increase in blood pressure. It is caused by a violation of the regulation of vascular tone, as well as changes in the work of the heart. According to the definition of the World Health Organization, an increase in pressure is considered to be above 140/90 mmHg. The pressure value is shown in two numbers, the upper one is systolic, and the lower one is diastolic.

• Causes of hypertension
• Symptoms of hypertension
• Diagnostics
• Treatment of hypertension
• Diet for hypertension
• Prevention of hypertension

According to statistics, 30% of the adult population has periods of high blood pressure, and almost always it is a sign of an independent pathology or the so-called primary hypertension. The Russian Federation stands at 49place in the world in terms of the number of patients with this disease.

Without treatment, complications of hypertension occur:

• myocardial infarction;
• stroke;
• acute heart failure;
• hypertensive crisis.

The insidiousness of the pathology is that in half of the cases, patients do not even suspect that they have a dangerous disease, therefore they do not take any action, and hypertension begins to manifest itself as unpleasant symptoms. In many countries, preventive programs have been launched that are aimed at combating pathology. New safe drugs are being developed to control blood pressure levels. At the same time, only 1/3 of hypertensive patients take adequate therapy and take care of their health.

Doctors around the world believe that every home should have a device for measuring pressure, along with a thermometer. This is especially true for families where relatives already suffered from cardiovascular diseases.

Causes of hypertension

Currently, the exact causes of hypertension have not been established. The main risk factor is considered to be prolonged or severe psycho-emotional stress. Other causes of pathology include:

• overweight: if overweight, each kilogram increases blood pressure by two mmHg;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• eating canned food, smoked meats, fatty foods, spicy cheese;
• excessive use of salt in cooking;
• frequent stress;
• smoking – harmful substances contained in cigarettes contribute to mechanical damage to the walls of arteries;
• busy work schedule;
• drinking alcohol;
• very tall or too short in men;
• physical and nervous overwork;
• The consumption of animal proteins, which is not limited.

Also, genetic predisposition can be attributed to risk factors. High blood pressure in first-line relatives guarantees a high risk of developing the disease.

It is worth paying attention to age, after 35 years in men, the chances of acquiring this disease increase. In women, pathology is associated with the onset of menopause.

Symptoms of hypertension

Often there are no signs of pathology, but sometimes the following symptoms can be observed:

• headache;
• rapid or weak heartbeat;
• dizziness;
• swelling of the eyelids, legs and arms, puffiness of the face;
• memory impairment;
• numbness of fingers;
• redness of the face;
• chills;
• increased sweating;
• alarm;
• internal voltage;
• reduced performance;
• irritability;
• the appearance of “midges” before the eyes.

All these manifestations do not bother patients constantly, but occur only in a certain period of time. This is the insidiousness of the disease, therefore, if the above symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor for advice. If therapy is not started on time, then over time the disease will begin to progress and can lead to serious complications. Therefore, it is important to control blood pressure. For this, there are now many special blood pressure monitors, from conventional mechanical devices to fully automated models. The work of tonometers with a phonendoscope is more difficult, it is not always possible to distinguish the sounds of pulsation, but after some preparation and practice, almost everyone can learn this.

Before measuring pressure, you should not smoke, drink alcohol or coffee, it is advisable to spend a few minutes alone. The measurement is carried out in a sitting position, the cuff should be fixed slightly above the elbow, where the pulse is best felt. Most often, aneroid (lever and inflatable type) and automatic devices are used to determine the pressure. In an outpatient setting, devices are used that can monitor pressure changes throughout the day.

For each age there are pressure standards:

• 16-20 years – pressure 100/70 – 120/80;
• up to forty years the norm is 120/70 – 130/80;
• from forty to sixty – up to 135/85;
• after sixty years, indicators up to 140/90 are considered normal pressure.

In cases where the indicators exceed the norm for several days in a row, this is a mandatory reason to visit a doctor, even if there are no symptoms other than the data of the device. A competent doctor will give recommendations on lifestyle in case of hypertension at an early stage, which will help to avoid complications.

Hypertension – classification

During the study of the disease, many different classifications were developed with a subdivision: according to etiology, the appearance of the patient, stability and pressure level, reasons for the increase, and the nature of the course. Some of them are still in use today.

The very first classification of hypertension subdivided it into red and pale. The appearance of the patient played a decisive role in this division. In the pale variety, the patient had cold extremities and an unhealthy complexion due to vasospasm. With red hypertension, at the time of an increase in blood pressure, the patient’s face, on the contrary, becomes red and becomes covered with spots.

In practice, one of the most important classifications is the division of the disease by origin. There is a primary, or essential, form that occurs as an isolated pathology. At the same time, there are no diseases of other organs and systems.

The secondary form is a symptom of the pathology of organs that are involved in the regulation of vascular tone. These include the kidneys, endocrine and nervous systems.

There is no single systematization of hypertension, but, as a rule, doctors use the classification recommended by the World Health Organization. It is characterized by the degree of pressure increase.

• Hypertension of the 1st degree is a mild form, which is characterized by pressure from 140/90 to 159/99 mmHg.
• Hypertensive disease of the 2nd degree – moderate hypertension, the pressure rises to 79/109 mm Hg. Art. Sometimes doctors diagnose hypertension grade 2 risk 2, which means that there are one or two risk factors and there is a possibility of complications.
• Hypertensive disease of the 3rd degree is characterized by a severe course, the pressure rises to 180/110 mm Hg. Art. and even higher. If during the examination the doctor diagnosed “hypertension 3 degree risk 4”, then you should immediately begin treatment and seek help from a hospital. In this case, the likelihood of complications increases to 30%.

Organs that are most susceptible to complications in hypertension:

• brain – DEP, dementia, strokes, memory loss;
• kidneys – development of chronic renal failure;
• heart – heart failure, heart attack, coronary death;
• vessels;
• eyes.

Doctors classify the disease depending on the defeat of the above organs. Stages of hypertension:

• Stage I – the work of the cardiovascular system is not disturbed, patients usually do not complain about their condition.
• Stage II – an increase in the left ventricle, blood pressure rises. There may be a local narrowing of the vessels of the retina.
• Stage III – signs of organ damage appear: chronic renal failure, angina pectoris, hypertensive encephalopathy, disorders that an ophthalmologist can detect when examining the fundus (optic nerve edema, hemorrhage), aortic aneurysm.

When classifying, options for increasing pressure are taken into account. In this case, the following forms are distinguished:

• diastolic – lower pressure rises;
• systolic – only the upper indicators increase;
• systole-diastolic;
• labile form – in this case, the pressure rises for a short time and returns to normal without special preparations.

There are separate types of hypertension that are not included in any of the classifications. These are refractory hypertension and hypertensive crises.

Refractory hypertension is hypertension that is not corrected by medication. The pressure does not decrease even with the use of more than three drugs. Sometimes this form of the disease is erroneously diagnosed when the wrong medicines are chosen or even the wrong diagnosis is made.

A hypertensive crisis is a condition in which the pressure rises to critical levels. Because of this, the patient experiences dizziness, severe headaches, impaired cerebral circulation, and cerebral hyperthermia may occur.

Hypertension during pregnancy

In a healthy woman throughout pregnancy, the pressure should remain within the normal range. However, starting from the 20th week, some patients may develop preeclampsia, which occurs due to vasospasm. As a result, there is an increase in pressure, swelling and nausea. In severe cases, high blood pressure threatens with a stroke, this condition is dangerous for both the child and the woman.

Therefore, it is important for pregnant women to constantly monitor their pressure. With an increase in blood pressure, it is necessary to inform the doctor about this, who will select an adequate treatment for hypertension that is safe during this period.

If you experience similar symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the consequences.

Make an appointment with highly qualified specialists

Diagnostics

Depending on the degree and stage of hypertension, treatment is selected. Before starting therapy, the doctor will definitely prescribe diagnostic tests that should confirm the presence of the disease.

Laboratory studies include: a general blood and urine test, a Nechiporenko urinalysis, a biochemical blood test, and bakposev.

The mandatory diagnostic program includes:

• clinical examination;
• history taking;
• measurement of body weight and waist circumference;
• blood pressure measurement on both arms;
• ECG and FCG;
• fundus examination.

Treatment of hypertension

Hypertension 1 degree, symptoms and treatment

Hypertension of the 1st degree is characterized by a periodic increase in pressure, which after a while returns to normal on its own. In this case, the patient may feel a headache, dizziness, tinnitus, “flies” may flash before the eyes. At the first stage of the disease, the doctor will tell you how to treat hypertension without special medications. The patient needs to adjust his lifestyle, monitor his weight, stop drinking alcohol and smoking, exercise regularly, and review his diet and try to avoid stress and excessive physical exertion.

Auxiliary treatments include: reflexology, massage, physiotherapy, herbal therapy.

Medications are rarely prescribed, only in cases where other methods of therapy have been ineffective, and the disease moves to the next stage of development.

Hypertension 2 degrees, symptoms and treatment

As a rule, the disease does not develop in a short period of time. Before hypertension passes to the 2nd degree, it takes several years. The symptoms of pathology include:

• nausea;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• numbness of fingers and toes;
• fatigue;
• palpitations.

When a steady increase in pressure develops, the doctor prescribes special medications to treat hypertension. They must be applied continuously, regardless of the tonometer readings. It is recommended to take diuretics, which help to remove excess fluid from the body.

In some cases, a decision is made to prescribe ACE inhibitors that affect the narrowing of blood vessels. They can increase the effect of diuretics by reducing the ability to produce aldosterone.

Drugs that reduce blood viscosity are used, as well as drugs that reduce cholesterol levels.

A large selection of drugs makes it possible to choose the treatment for each patient individually. At the same time, do not forget about non-drug and auxiliary means. Combination therapy gives positive results.

Hypertension 3 degrees, symptoms and treatment

A doctor can make a diagnosis of “grade 3 hypertension” when target organ damage is observed. Since today blood pressure levels can be successfully corrected with drugs, less attention is paid to the value of blood pressure readings.

The reason for the development of this degree of the disease, in most cases, is the untimely visit to the doctor and the lack of adequate treatment. Modern diagnostic capabilities make it possible to detect even the most insignificant changes in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Often, patients themselves neglect the opportunity to visit a specialist. Taking medications (pills) for hypertension at certain stages of the disease helps to achieve the level of the physiological norm, not limited to “working blood pressure”. This allows patients to avoid the third degree of the disease and significantly improve the quality of life.

Signs of organ damage are added to the symptoms of the disease. Most often, damage to blood vessels, as well as structures of the central nervous system, is diagnosed in the brain. Significantly increases the risk of myocardial infarction and the development of hemodynamic instability. The kidneys suffer, problems associated with damage to the retina of the eye appear.

It is important to understand that when organs are damaged, a vicious circle occurs. Emerging diseases worsen the course of hypertension, it is difficult to treat.

As in other cases, treatment should consist of several stages. These are dosed physical activity, recreational activities. Patients need to observe the regime of work and rest, establish a healthy diet and do not forget about drug therapy.

Treatment of hypertension in the elderly

Older people suffering from this disease constitute a separate group of patients who need a special approach in treatment. Medicinal pressure reduction in the elderly has its own characteristics.

Standard therapy is not always suitable for patients over 60, but this is not a reason to abandon treatment. It is important to individually select effective drugs and tune in to a positive result.

In the case where the elderly do not have complications, it is recommended to start treatment with a thiazide diuretic. Their effectiveness increases with the age of the patient, so, after 55 years, these drugs are much more effective than at an earlier age. It is important to remember that diuretics are prescribed in small doses, since their increase can provoke an increase in cholesterol. In the event that the patient has a low level of potassium or sodium, potassium-sparing agents are recommended. Additional intake of potassium is prohibited. In the elderly, the kidneys are no longer able to cope with its excretion.

If the patient, for objective reasons, cannot take diuretics, then beta-blockers become the drugs of choice.

In the low-renin form of hypertension, calcium antagonists are prescribed, they support cerebral and renal blood flow. Also, these drugs are effective remedies for angina pectoris and can reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers and ACE inhibitors are not as effective as the above drugs, but they can be used when other drugs do not work. Potent drugs guanabenz, methyldopa, clonidine, alpha-adrenergic blockers are rarely prescribed because they cause drowsiness, depression and low blood pressure even when standing.

Combination drugs for the treatment of hypertension have been proven to reduce blood pressure more effectively than a single drug at a higher dosage. Therefore, in modern medicine, combinations of drugs are prescribed:

• diuretic and calcium antagonists;
• beta-blocker with diuretic;
• ACE inhibitor with calcium antagonist;
• ACE inhibitor with diuretic.

When a hypertensive crisis occurs, the patient needs rehabilitation. Usually this problem is solved in a sanatorium. Patients are shown the following activities:

• physiotherapy exercises;
• diet food;
• medicinal baths;
• apparatus physiotherapy;
• herbal medicine;
• aromatherapy;
• oxygen cocktails;
• drug treatment courses.

In the form of maintenance therapy, patients are recommended electrosleep, laser therapy, electrophoresis. Thanks to electrical impulses, pressure is reduced, the kidneys and heart are healed.

With the help of sulfide and carbonic baths, the immune system improves and blood pressure normalizes. The choice of procedures is determined by the age of the patient and the stage of the disease.

Folk remedies in treatment

The treatment of hypertension should be comprehensive, along with traditional dosage forms, traditional medicine can be used, where there are many effective recipes.

1. Red clover decoction. The plant is brewed in the same way as regular tea, then consumed in half a glass at night. It is advisable to use only fresh decoction, but you can store the medicine in the refrigerator for up to three days.
2. Honey and garlic. It is necessary to take half a glass of honey, mash five cloves of garlic and grind one lemon along with the peel. Mix everything well and put it in a dark place for a week, after which the composition should be stored in the refrigerator, in a closed jar (you can wrap it with a cloth or foil). Take one teaspoon three times a day.
3. Vegetable juices. Mix one glass of juices of carrots, black radish, beets with a glass of honey and juice of one lemon. Consume one tablespoon three times a day before meals. The duration of the course is one and a half months.
4. Rosehip infusion can be drunk without restrictions.
5. Seeds. Pour well-washed unpeeled sunflower seeds into a saucepan. Pour one and a half liters of cold water and boil for about two hours over low heat. The broth must be filtered, then during the day to drink one glass.
6. Golden mustache. Finely chop the dark purple knee and pour 0.5 liters of vodka. Infuse for twelve days in a dark place, gently shaking the contents every three days. Take one dessert spoon half an hour before meals.
7. Lemon. Mix 1 glass of white onion juice and 1 glass of honey and add 50 grams of pre-crushed lemon peels. Tightly close the container in which the infusion will be stored, and put in a dark place. Use the infusion in a teaspoon after a meal, after two to three hours. Or mix a tablespoon of grated lemon 1: 1 with chopped cranberries, add half a tablespoon of fresh rose hips (you can twist through a meat grinder). Add the mixture to one glass of honey and consume one tablespoon in the morning and evening.
8. Med. Mix five hundred grams of May honey with half a liter of vodka, heat until foam appears. In this case, the mixture must be constantly stirred. Let it brew. For the second composition, in one liter of water, it is necessary to brew the following herbs in a pinch: chamomile, marsh cudweed, valerian, knotweed, motherwort. Let the broth brew, then strain it and mix with the first composition. Put the tincture in a dark place for three days. In the first week, the composition is taken twice a day, one teaspoon, the next week already in the dining room, until the decoction is over. Treatment in this way is long, with interruptions of 7 to 10 days.

Hypertension diet

Proper and balanced nutrition in hypertension is the key to a successful fight against the disease. It is worth remembering that every extra kilogram adds numbers on the tonometer. The main task is to come to the optimal weight, if it does not meet the standards. To normalize the pressure, the following recommendations must be observed.

• Reduce salt intake. Since sodium retains water in the body, the volume of circulating blood increases, which affects the increase in pressure. The norm of salt will be about 4 grams. Ideally, there is no need to add salt to food during cooking.
• To normalize metabolism, it is necessary to drink enough liquid, about 1.5 liters per day. It is necessary to give preference to clean water, rosehip broth, as well as “healthy” soups.
• Avoid coffee, strong tea and alcohol.
• Fractional nutrition. It is important to distribute the diet in such a way that you eat even portions five to eight times a day.
• Reduce the amount of meat and animal fats consumed. Patients are advised to choose lean meat – turkey, veal, chicken, rabbit. It is best to cook without oil, if the meat seems bland, you can add herbs and lemon juice to replace the salt. As little as possible, it is worth including smoked meats, sausages, and butter in the diet.
• It is important to increase the amount of vegetables and foods rich in potassium and magnesium: cereals, beets, carrots, dried apricots, cabbage.
• It is recommended to refuse from the use of confectionery products with an increased amount of sugar, preference is given to dried fruits, honey, whole grain products.
• Patients with hypertension should not fast. Strict fasting and diets are contraindicated.

Disability in hypertension

Hypertension is a serious disease, and in some cases, patients are given a disability. Usually it is given to patients with the second – third stage of the disease or with constant progression.

With hypertension at stage 1, the medical labor commission should help with employment, since increased workloads, night work and work associated with contact with hazardous substances should be avoided.

When establishing disability, a special medical commission evaluates violations, the presence of complications, and a history of hypertensive crises. Sometimes, already in the second stage of hypertension, a third group can be placed.

Disability of the second group can be obtained by patients with a malignant course of the disease, in most cases it is non-working.

In patients with grade 3 hypertension, the first disability group can be established in the case of:

• steady progression;
• severe heart failure;
• severe violations in the work of organs;
• the patient cannot take care of himself, is limited in movement and communication.

Prevention of hypertension

Primary prevention should exclude risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of hypertension:

• maintenance of normal body weight;
• restriction of salt intake;
• exclusion of bad habits – smoking, alcohol;
• try to avoid physical and nervous strain;
• prevention of physical inactivity;
• treatment of chronic diseases.