Hypertension and the heart. Hypertensive heart

A very common, typical change in the heart in hypertension is hypertrophy, in particular of the left ventricle.

Cardiac hypertrophy can develop with hypertension, apparently very quickly. So, with acute nephritis in children, it appears already by the end of the first month from the onset of the disease. In young patients, cardiac hypertrophy during hypertension develops faster and more strongly, while in older patients it develops more slowly and weaker. In an experiment on dogs with renal hypertension, the first signs of left ventricular hypertrophy were observed within a few days from the onset of hypertension.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is the result of its work overload, similar to how it develops with heart defects. The work of the left ventricle under conditions of increased blood pressure in the arterial system should lead to an increase in its contractile function, which entails thickening of muscle fibers, similar to how hypertrophy of skeletal muscles develops with their increased tension and intense training. It must be assumed that in the development of such a reaction, compensatory mechanisms that regulate the adaptive functions of organs, i.e., reflex processes, are of leading importance. It is possible that they are accomplished through those nervous devices that normally enhance the contractile function of the heart.

As is known, for a long time Such a device was considered to be the sympathetic nerve, strengthening the function of which not only speeds up the rhythm, but also enhances heart contractions. I. P. Pavlov in his dissertation showed the existence of a special nerve that enhances the contractile function of the heart. Increased contractile activity of the heart is not necessarily combined with increased heart rate. We know that well-trained people respond to physical activity not by increasing heart rate, but, on the contrary, by slowing it down with a simultaneous sharp increase in stroke volume.

In various cases of hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy is expressed not only depending on the age of the patient and the duration of the disease, but also on some other reasons. In any case, there are examples of long-term and high hypertension without signs of significant hypertrophy of the heart muscle. In general, there is a belief that there is a discrepancy between the degree and duration of the hypertensive state and the severity of cardiac hypertrophy. This discrepancy appears to relate less to renal hypertension and more to hypertension.

The question may arise whether changes in the coronary circulation, observed with increased pressure and less pronounced in renal hypertension, are reflected in the heart during hypertension. It would seem that these changes should prevent the development of cardiac hypertrophy, since they are accompanied by impaired myocardial nutrition.

However, the issue of the development of cardiac hypertrophy in coronary insufficiency turned out to be more complex than previously thought. Often, patients with hypertension exhibit significant cardiac hypertrophy in the presence of widespread vascular atherosclerosis, including coronary arteries.

Coronary atherosclerosis is often accompanied by an increase in heart weight, especially in cases where heart failure is observed. Without going into a discussion of this issue in more detail, it should be noted that only sudden and widespread atherosclerotic changes in the heart can limit the possibility of hypertrophy.

Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension is not associated with its preliminary dilatation. Expansion of the cavity of the left ventricle begins to be observed only in later stages of the disease, first as a compensatory phenomenon, then as a manifestation of myocardial weakness.

Changes in the right ventricle are less constant and pronounced.

Without setting out in detail the issue of coronary atherosclerosis in hypertension, we can point out that in hypertension, atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels (microscopically and macroscopically) is almost always established.

Among patients with hypertension who died from heart failure in the presence of severe cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction is determined in no less than 25-40%.

The statement that in hypertension, anatomical disorders of large vessels recede into the background and that in a sharply hypertrophied heart muscle, as a rule, there are no infarctions, and sclerotic changes are moderately expressed, contradicts the data presented above.

Connective tissue changes in the heart during hypertension (cardiosclerosis) occur in two types: diffuse and focal. Diffuse cardiosclerosis (or myofibrosis) consists of a uniform proliferation of connective tissue, located in the form of a delicate network between muscle fibers. It is usually associated with hypoxia of the heart, sharply hypertrophied and enlarged as a result of metabolic disorders and slowing capillary blood flow. Close to it is small focal cardiosclerosis; it develops as a result of focal necrosis in hypertrophied cardiac muscle. These micronecrosis is usually compared with those that Buchner obtained in his famous experiments, when he forced anemic animals to perform intense physical activity and observed

A chronic disease that requires systematic courses of outpatient, as well as inpatient treatment and examination. When seeking medical help only in case of significant deterioration of the condition, hypertension becomes the object of emergency intervention medical care, which is usually associated with a violation of the systematic course of treatment.

Reasons

Hypertensive heart disease develops in response to increased demands for blood supply to organs and tissues related to the systemic and/or pulmonary circulation. Accordingly, a distinction is made between systemic (left ventricular) and pulmonary (right ventricular) hypertensive heart disease. The first of them is associated with systemic hypertension, i.e. an increase in hydrostatic pressure in the system of arteries of the great circle, and the second - pulmonary hypertension, i.e. an increase in blood pressure in the vessels of the pulmonary circulation.

Symptoms

Sometimes the only manifestation of heart disease, hypertension, for many years is an increase in blood pressure, which makes early recognition of the disease difficult.

Complaints with which patients go to the doctor in early stages illnesses are nonspecific in nature: fatigue, irritability, insomnia, general weakness, palpitations are noted.

Later, most patients begin to complain of periodic, then frequent headaches, usually in the morning, such as a “heavy head”, occipital localization, aggravated in the horizontal position of the patient, decreasing after walking, drinking tea or coffee. This kind of headache, characteristic of patients with hypertension, is sometimes observed in people with normal blood pressure.

As hypertension progresses, the complaints of patients reflect acute hemodynamic disorders due to the appearance of hypertensive crises, and in the period of organ damage, complaints associated with the formation of complications - dyscirculatory encephalopathy (DEP), angioretinopathy with visual disturbances, renal failure, etc. d.

The course of hypertension is characterized by stages in the development of arterial hypertension and symptoms of regional circulatory disorders. Taking this into account, various clinical classifications are proposed, distinguishing its stages, based on the dynamics of both several or even one symptom - elevated blood pressure (for example, distinguishing the stages of labile and stable hypertension), and a set of clinical manifestations correlated with the occurrence and progression of complications.

Complications

In later stages it can be complicated by renal failure, heart failure, and cerebrovascular insufficiency. Hypertension contributes to the development of myocardial infarction (damage to the coronary arteries), ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, subarachnoid hemorrhages, and dissecting aortic aneurysm. A complication of hypertension can also be visual impairment associated with the development of angio- and neuroretinopathy.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made on the basis of anamnesis (certificates from medical institutions) and the listed symptoms with the reliable exclusion of a hypertensive crisis and cardiogenic pulmonary edema in the approximate formulation: “Hypertension, deterioration”, “... Nosebleeds” (if signs are present).

Constantly high blood pressure or an increase in blood pressure over the past few days without an obvious external reason;
headache, dizziness, sleep disturbances, pain behind the sternum and in the heart area, shortness of breath;
nosebleeds;
pulse rate is within normal limits;
normal respiratory rate, no signs of respiratory failure;
ECG shows left ventricular hypertrophy, left bundle branch block.

Prevention

The main goal in the treatment of hypertensive heart disease is to reduce blood pressure to normal levels, as well as the ability to prevent future attacks and prevent the development of complications. And arterial hypertension has more than enough complications. This includes myocardial damage, damage to the retina and kidneys, and even male impotence.

Treatment

Various antihypertensive drugs are used for treatment. It should be remembered that only a doctor should prescribe medication. If hypertension is secondary, then first of all it is necessary to treat the underlying disease, and taking antihypertensive drugs will be purely symptomatic.

Patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension must radically change their lifestyle. In medicine, this is called non-drug therapy. In the initial stage of this disease, these measures will be sufficient. These methods include:

reducing salt intake. Table salt retains fluid in the body, which leads to edema and, as a result, hypertension;
giving up bad habits. Smoking and alcohol lead to vasoconstriction, which also leads to increased blood pressure;
getting rid of excess weight; with obesity, there is an accumulation of bad cholesterol in the body, which contributes to blockage of blood vessels;
increase in physical activity. Exercising helps saturate the blood with oxygen, strengthens the body, and has a beneficial effect on all organs and systems of the body.

Forecast

It is determined by the presence and severity of organ damage associated with arterial hypertension - cerebrovascular and coronary insufficiency, hypertrophy and dilation of the heart, and the development of arteriolonephrosclerosis. With inadequate treatment, the progressive nature of hypertension leads to heart failure and (or) renal failure, which can cause death in patients.

Significant arterial hypertension increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, as well as myocardial infarction (in patients with coronary heart disease), which can also be fatal or lead to disability. Systematic adequate antihypertensive therapy significantly improves the vital prognosis and prolongs the working capacity of patients, significantly reducing the incidence of hemorrhagic strokes and slowing down the development of cardiac, renal, and, according to some data, coronary insufficiency.

Most often, hypertension and coronary heart disease go hand in hand. These diseases are similar in symptoms and course, but at the same time, one of them is a harbinger of the other. What are the symptoms of ischemia and hypertension? What do they have in common and what are different? Coronary artery disease is associated with high blood pressure and this has become common in medical experience.

Where is the connection with hypertension?

There is a direct connection between IHD and hypertension. Typically, ischemia is preceded by the appearance of hypertension; most often, both diseases appear in people over 50 years of age. Hypertension occurs due to stressful situations and constant nervous shocks, which trigger irreversible reactions of the body and the release of hormones that affect the cardiovascular system. A hypertensive crisis is a sharp deterioration in the condition of a hypertensive patient.

In fact, coronary heart disease is a complication of arterial hypertension. People who are genetically predisposed to these diseases and men aged 55 years and above are the main risk group. These risks cannot be eliminated in any way, so such people need to visit doctors frequently in order to detect and effectively treat ailments in the early stages. IHD is the leading cause of most deaths from heart disease. Statistics say that in Europe, cerebral ischemia and stroke account for 90% of all heart diseases, which means they are the most common.

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Common causes and risk groups

Bad habits, poor nutrition, fast food. This accompanies all working people almost every day. Therefore, many people are at risk of ischemia and hypertension. But knowing the causes of diseases, you can understand how to avoid them. Common causes of coronary heart disease and high blood pressure are:

frequent experiences and stress that trigger the onset of hypertension;
excess weight, frequent overeating;
drinking too much large quantity salty and spicy foods;
a large amount of fatty meat in the diet (for example, pork);
smoking and drinking excessively;
heredity (one of your close relatives suffers from coronary artery disease or hypertension);
sedentary, sedentary lifestyle.

From these reasons, several main risk groups can be derived, that is, groups of people who are most susceptible to the possible occurrence of these two diseases. This:

elderly people (over 55−60 years old);
persons who are overweight and obese;
people who may inherit these diseases;
persons who have a sedentary profession and lead a sedentary life.

Knowing the causes of diseases, you can avoid them; to do this, you need to see a doctor and undergo some procedures.

To identify these diseases, you need to see a doctor and undergo some procedures: do an electrocardiogram, listen to the chest to detect wheezing and noise, irradiate the heart with ultrasound (echocardiography), take tests to identify specific proteins in the blood, check the concentration of fats in the vessels, the presence of blood clots , physical exercise test. You may have to undergo these procedures more than once, but several times to accurately confirm the diagnosis.

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Common symptoms of hypertension and coronary heart disease

Treatment for these diseases depends on the symptoms that a person exhibits. In ischemia and hypertension, most of the symptoms are the same. This is so because hypertension is, in fact, the beginning of coronary artery disease. Let's look at the common manifestations of these ailments. Common manifestations for hypertension and ischemia are:

pain in the heart and sternum;
pressing headaches and facial redness;
abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia);
“angina pectoris” (angina pectoris);
dyspnea;
frequent dizziness;
problems with blood circulation in the body;
pre-infarction state.

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Features of treatment

Based on the symptoms, it is noticeable that the symptoms of acute hypertension and ischemic heart disease are virtually identical. This means that the treatment of two diseases can be carried out with the same drugs. Usually these are drugs that lower blood pressure to normal limits, drugs that improve blood flow and heart rhythm, and sometimes specialized vitamins for the myocardium are prescribed.

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Treatment of coronary artery disease and hypertension

Surgery is one of the non-drug methods of therapy. To treat ischemic and hypertensive phenomena, the following are used:

beta adrenaline blockers;
diuretics (diuretics);
ACE inhibitor drugs;
antiplatelet agents;
antiarrhythmic drugs.

Initially, the disease is easily cured with antidepressants and sedatives.

All these drugs should not be taken together. They are prescribed by a doctor depending on the above-mentioned symptoms and individual tolerance to medications. Diuretics should not be taken by people with kidney problems or kidney failure. Antiplatelet drugs should not be taken at very high blood pressure. Examples of drugs taken in the treatment of hypertension and coronary artery disease:

"Valsartan";
"Mikardis";
"Calcigard";
"Amlodipine";
"Bisoprolol";
"Captopril";
"Corvalment";
Lovastanin.

There are also more non-standard methods for treating hypertension and ischemia. For example, wave therapy (low-power shock wave treatment), treatment with leeches (hirudotherapy), quantum therapy, the use of specialized antibiotics, various herbal tinctures (traditional medicine).

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Disease Prevention

First of all, preventive measures help those who are not sick and do not want to suffer from these diseases in the future. It is imperative to follow a daily routine, engage in moderate physical activity (daily), perform cardio exercises, adhere to a dietary diet (low fat and salty foods, exclude smoked and spicy foods), eat less fatty meat, relieve stress, unload your mind, take antidepressants (in measure), stop drinking and smoking, always monitor your blood pressure (measure it).

People who already suffer from hypertension need to begin treatment as quickly as possible and not put off a visit to a cardiologist. Initially, the disease is easily cured with antidepressants, sedatives and avoidance of stressful situations. A state of peace and quiet is actually the key to success in the prevention and treatment of hypertension and the prevention of ischemia.

Features of stage 1 hypertension: its symptoms and treatment

Symptoms of stage 1 hypertension
Risks 1, 2, 3 and 4
Causes of stage 1 hypertension
Diagnostics
Diet for stage 1 hypertension
Drugs for stage 1 hypertension
Are they allowed into the army with stage 1 hypertension?

High blood pressure often occurs in old age in both sexes, which leads to the disease cardiovascular system, which is called hypertension. Normal blood pressure (BP) occurs during contraction of the heart, more precisely its left ventricle, blood from it enters the aorta, and then moves through smaller arteries. The level of pressure is affected by the magnitude of the tension, the volume of blood in small arteries and their tone.

It also has another name – arterial hypertension. Its presence can be confirmed or refuted by tests and diagnostics of the body under the supervision of a doctor. An increase in pressure can be indicated by three consecutive control measurements, which are carried out using a tonometer.

Normal blood pressure can change its value up or down, depending on the person’s condition, especially when it is affected by stressful situations and an unhealthy lifestyle. In normal life, it rises during physical activity, and during sleep it decreases, but during the day it returns to normal.

Its indicators should range from 100-140 to 60-90. If the blood pressure value exceeds the norm, this indicates that the person suffers from hypertension.

A systematic increase in blood pressure is classified as stage 1 hypertension. This is the mildest form, with no serious effect on the internal organs (heart, blood vessels and kidneys). The second degree is much more difficult, and the third is the most severe, with the destruction of vital organs.

The first degree of the disease can be treated if you consult a specialist in time and take the necessary tests. The prerequisites for its diagnosis are the condition of the patient, who can feel the deviations described below in the body.

Symptoms of stage 1 hypertension

With it, the pressure increases periodically and returns to normal on its own. The attack is accompanied by:

Blurred vision;
Brief dizziness;
Headache in the back of the head;
Quiet noise in the ears;
Increased heart rate;
Loss of strength;
Heaviness in the limbs;
Increased sweating;
Swelling of the hands and feet;
Memory impairment.

If such symptoms begin to appear with enviable regularity, then you need to immediately begin systematically measuring your blood pressure, twice a day. The first time in the morning, without even getting out of bed, in the evening, put the tonometer near you, and upon waking up immediately take its measurements.

The second measurement should be taken during the day from 16 to 17 hours. If your blood pressure is constantly high throughout the week, you should consult a specialist.

This disease is insidious in that at the initial stage it occurs practically without any obvious symptoms. This leads to the fact that people seek medical help late and have to treat it in an advanced form.

Meanwhile she cites:

Heart failure, which is expressed in edema and tachycardia, causes shortness of breath.
Failures in the functioning of the kidneys, which do not have time to process the products that enter them and accumulate liquid, which is why problems with urination occur. In advanced forms, this is expressed in intoxication of the body with products formed after the breakdown of urea.
Changes in the condition of blood vessels, accompanied by unbearable and constant headaches.

Risks 1, 2, 3 and 4

In addition to monitoring blood pressure, there is another important factor, by accurately determining the indications of which it is possible to formulate the correct treatment for the patient, and it is called risk. Its value is the sum of blood pressure readings, as well as aggravating factors, such as:

Bad habits;
Excess weight;
Glucose level;
Heredity;
Age;
Blood cholesterol level;
Concomitant diseases.

Risks come in four degrees; they are diagnosed when there is a certain percentage of the likelihood of complications affecting the blood vessels and heart.

For stage 1 hypertension, symptoms and treatment in most cases correspond to risks 1 and 2. Subsequent levels of risk come with aggravating factors that are rarely encountered at the initial stage. If a patient with hypertension drinks alcohol excessively, it complicates the course of the disease.

Causes of stage 1 hypertension

Pathological abnormalities in the activity of the heart can be caused by various factors and their dangerous combination. The reasons that caused pressure surges are considered:

Bad habits. Smoking causes blood vessels to narrow. Poor nutrition.
Physical passivity or, conversely, excessive stress.
Age: for women (over 50 years), for men (over 65 years). Although recently there has been a significant “rejuvenation” of this disease.
Hereditary predisposition. The more relatives who suffer from this disease, the greater the likelihood of its occurrence.
Pregnancy. During this wonderful time, the mother experiences excessive physical exertion, hormonal disruption and changes in the body, and cases of nervous breakdowns are not uncommon. A mixture of such dangerous factors is expressed in increased blood pressure.
Taking medications that cause side effects such as increased blood pressure. These could be dietary supplements or oral contraceptives.
Stress and constant psychological worries lead to heartbeat irregularities, during which adrenaline is released, which constricts blood vessels.
The presence of the following diseases: diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis (formation of plaques on the inside of blood vessels), kidney and hypothalamic disease, pyelonephritis.
Deviation in work thyroid gland and adrenal glands.
A sharp change in climatic conditions.
Excess salt. An ordinary food product, without which not a single dish is complete, can, if in excess, cause a spasm of the arteries and cause the accumulation of fluid in the body.
Chronic fatigue and lack of sleep.

All these reasons can provoke the appearance of arterial hypertension of the 1st degree.

Diagnostics

People who have already experienced high blood pressure need to undergo an annual examination, the same applies to those who first discovered signs of hypertension. To confirm the diagnosis previously made by a doctor, you need to undergo a hardware examination.

Instrumental examination	Features of the event
Using a tonometer	It can be performed in a hospital or at home if you have a pressure measuring device at home. Some people are very nervous about going to the hospital, so the best option for them is to take blood pressure measurements at home. This should be done in a calm environment; before going to the doctor, it is better to do this three times a day at regular intervals in order to get an accurate picture.
Ultrasound of the kidneys and adrenal glands	This study will allow timely detection of abnormalities in the functioning of the kidneys and check for tumors on the adrenal glands. If the pressure has been elevated for a long time, then beneficial cells in the kidneys - nephritis, designed to filter the blood - may die; due to their lack, fluid may be retained in these organs.
Echocardiogram	A mandatory study that helps to accurately determine the degree of damage to the heart, determine the size of its chambers and their actual volume. Assess the functioning of the left cardiac ventricle.
MRI of the brain	Determines whether there is a connection between hypertension and vascular pathology of nerve tissue.
Using a phonendoscope	A physical diagnosis is performed to check for cardiac arrhythmias and accompanying murmurs. Based on the evidence from this study, it is concluded that an ECG is necessary.
ECG	An electrocardiogram provides a more detailed assessment of the activity of the heart muscle. She analyzes her work over a certain period of time.
Dopplerography	This is an ultrasound examination that allows you to detect the movement of blood through the vessels.
Arteriography	Refers to x-ray methods in which the condition of arterial walls is assessed, their defects and the presence of plaques are identified.

In addition to these studies, you need to visit an ophthalmologist who will check the fundus of the eye. The eyes, like the heart, are most often affected by hypertension. The expansion of the veins located in the retina of the eye can be irreversible; this change must be stopped if the vessels are identified in time and return to normal.

When the question arises whether stage 1 hypertension can be cured, the answer is affirmative if all the necessary studies have been completed and tests taken, which include:

Urine tests;
General and biochemical blood test;
Hormone tests for women.

As a result of the first two analyzes it is estimated:

Metabolism of carbohydrates and glucose levels;
Kidney function based on the presence of uric acid and creatinine;
Electrolytic metabolism: sodium, potassium, phosphate and calcium;
Fat deposits: the presence of cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL;
The degree of damage to the heart and kidneys;
Condition of the walls of blood vessels.

Hormonal examinations are used only for the weaker half of humanity; to conduct them, blood is taken from a vein on certain days of the menstrual cycle:

Prolactin and LH on days 3-5;
Progesterone and estradiol on day 20 of the cycle;
Testosterone, androstenedione, 17-OH progesterone on days 7-10.

These tests are necessary to establish a complete picture of the course of the disease and prescribe effective treatment for stage 1 hypertension. Basically, everyone starts taking medications that lower blood pressure, but they do not eliminate the causes of the disease; for this, the doctor must prescribe complex therapy.

When the results of tests and studies confirm the presence of hypertension, the question of how to treat stage 1 hypertension is immediately considered.

The doctor will advise you to change your lifestyle and introduce more rest into it, try to avoid stressful situations, supplement your day with physical exercise and walking, and start eating right.

Diet for stage 1 hypertension

You need to reconsider your diet and, if possible, try not to consume salt, replacing it with other products, such as vinegar or citric acid, but within reasonable limits. Diet is very important for high blood pressure; properly selected foods can help blood vessels; the main emphasis should be plant foods.

List of foods that reduce blood pressure:

Green tea and hibiscus.
Melons and melons - melons and watermelons. They are known for their diuretic properties.
Dairy products, their main component is calcium, which actively lowers blood pressure. It is also found in almonds and green vegetables.
Products containing magnesium: cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat and wheat), walnuts, beans, beets, black currants and carrots.
Acidic foods: grapefruit, celery, viburnum, chokeberry, quince and cranberry.
Foods rich in calcium include oranges, tuna, tomatoes, dried apricots, zucchini and bananas.
Foods that can thin the blood – garlic.

It is worth reducing and over time completely eliminating the following products:

Smoked, spicy and salty dishes;
Products high in caffeine;
Fatty fish and ice cream;
Products with a high starch content: semolina, potatoes, white flour baked goods and corn;
Confectionery with butter cream;
By-products;
Hot and specific spices.

If you adhere to such a diet, you can not only help your blood vessels return to normal, but also lose significant weight without exhausting yourself with endless diets on one product. The main feature of the treatment is to gradually give up foods from the “black” list so that the body can adapt to their absence.

When physical exercise and diet do not completely cope with the disease, it is necessary to supplement treatment for stage 1 hypertension with medications. But they must be prescribed by a doctor; under no circumstances should you self-medicate.

Drugs for stage 1 hypertension

The standard approach to drug treatment is to prescribe the following medications:

Neurotropic agents that relieve stress and calm. These include: antidepressants (amitriptyline), tranquilizers (diazepam and trioxazine) and sedatives (valerian and bromine-based drugs).
Diuretics, these tablets for stage 1 hypertension help remove salts and excess water from the body. The following are considered effective: furosemide, Lasix, hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride.
Vasodilator drugs: vasonit, molsidomine or apressin.

The choice of medications and their dosage are completely prescribed by the doctor.

Stage 1 hypertension occurs with a slight increase in pressure, but despite this, it can cause serious complications:

On the kidneys. Sclerosis of tissues and blood vessels occurs in them. Their activity and the function of urea distillation are disrupted, and protein appears in the urine. The next stage will be kidney failure.
On the brain. Thrombosis appears in its vessels, the vessels are disrupted, which first lead to small infarctions occurring in the deep parts of the brain. Fluctuating blood pressure can lead to stroke and heart attack. Due to the disruption of blood supply, the brain begins to decrease in size and can cause dementia.
On vessels. They are located throughout the body, and the disease can affect completely different places. If this touches the retina of the eyes, it will result in loss of vision.
On the heart. With hypertension, the load falls on the left ventricle of the heart, its muscle increases and leads to myocardial infarction. This condition also threatens the development of angina pectoris and even death.

Some of the above complications entail loss of performance and disability, which once again proves that it is better to treat the disease at its very beginning.

Are they allowed into the army with stage 1 hypertension?

In peacetime, conscripts with such a diagnosis, after confirming it by appropriate examinations, may not be recognized as fit for military service. This is stipulated in Article 43 on the schedule of illnesses.

To obtain an exemption, blood pressure readings must be within the limits indicated in the article, that is, 140/90 and above.

If you have a predisposition to hypertension, then it is better to prevent it than to then spend a lot of effort and money on treatment, the following actions will help:

Regular exercise or walking;
Controlling your weight;
Quitting smoking;
Undergo periodic blood sugar checks;
Measure blood pressure regularly;
After a busy day, take a break;
Sleep at least 8 hours a day;
Do an ECG of the heart.

It is quite possible to cure stage 1 hypertension if desired. An integrated approach to treatment will not only relieve further suffering from the complications of this disease, but will also prolong life.

Left ventricular hypertrophy of the heart: treatment, causes, symptoms

Left ventricular hypertrophy is a syndrome characteristic of most diseases of the cardiovascular system, which consists of an increase in the muscle mass of the heart.

Unfortunately, today there are more and more cases of left ventricular hypertrophy in young people. The danger of this is complemented by a higher percentage of deaths than in older people. Men with left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy die 7 times more often than the fairer sex.

Development mechanism

In a normal physiological state, the heart, pushing blood into the aorta, performs the function of a pump. From the aorta, blood flows to all organs. When the left ventricle relaxes, it receives a portion of blood from the left atrium. Its quantity is constant and sufficient to ensure optimal levels of gas exchange and other metabolic functions throughout the body.

As a consequence of the formation of pathological changes in the cardiovascular system, it becomes more difficult for the heart muscle to perform this function. To perform the same amount of work requires more energy expenditure. Then a natural compensatory mechanism is activated - an increase in load leads to an increase in the muscle mass of the heart. This can be compared to how increasing the load on the muscles in the gym results in an increase in muscle mass and volume.

Why can’t the left ventricle “build up” its muscle mass without disturbing its owner? The fact is that in the heart tissue only cardiomyocytes increase. And they make up only about a quarter of the heart tissue. The connective tissue part does not change.

The capillary network does not have time to develop after LV hypertrophy, so rapidly hypertrophied tissue may suffer from oxygen starvation. Which leads to ischemic changes in the myocardium. In addition, the conduction system of the heart remains the same, which leads to disruption of impulse conduction and various arrhythmias.

The tissue of the left ventricle, in particular the interventricular septum, is most susceptible to hypertrophy.

During intense physical activity, the heart has to pump more blood and work harder. Therefore, professional athletes may develop moderate left ventricular hypertrophy, which is physiological or compensatory.

Etiology of hypertrophy

In almost all long-term heart diseases, left ventricular hypertrophy is an obligatory consequence.

Left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy is observed with:

hypertension;
aortic valve stenosis;
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
intense long-term physical activity;
obesity;
smoking, drinking alcohol.

Thus, for any heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy is a mandatory syndrome.

Hypertension, especially persistent and poorly treated hypertension, is the main culprit. If the patient says that high blood pressure numbers are familiar and “working” for him, if hypertension was corrected only occasionally or was not treated at all, then he certainly has severe hypertrophy of the left ventricle of the heart.

Excess weight is a risk factor for hypertension, which causes left ventricular hypertrophy. In addition, with obesity, blood supply to an enlarged body requires a lot of work to ensure blood supply to all tissues, which also leads to changes in the myocardium.

Of the congenital diseases, the main place is in heart defects with impaired blood outflow from the ventricle.

However, left ventricular hypertrophy symptoms will be the same for any etiology.

Types of hypertrophy

According to the degree of change in the shape of the left ventricle of the heart and its thickness, eccentric and concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricular myocardium is distinguished.

Concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle is characterized by thickening of its walls. Its cavity in this case does not change. It is formed when the ventricle is overloaded with blood pressure. This form is typical for hypertension. This etiology accounts for at least 90% and has a high risk of life-threatening cardiovascular complications - more than 35%.

Eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy is characterized by relative preservation of the thickness of the walls of the ventricle, an increase in its mass and the size of the cavity. The risk of severe complications is about 25%. This type develops when there is excess blood volume.

How to suspect a disease

For a long time, left ventricular hypertrophy of the heart has minor symptoms or the heart does not let you know that it is working through force. When compensatory capabilities are exhausted and a person begins to complain, the changes in the myocardium are already significant.

The following signs of left ventricular hypertrophy appear in varying degrees of severity:

dyspnea;
tachycardia;
cardiac pain;
feeling of weakness and fainting;
fatigue.

Timely early detection reduces the risk of developing severe complications. ECG signs of left ventricular hypertrophy are easily determined by any therapist. This method is cheap and informative.

Left ventricular hypertrophy on the ECG is manifested by an increase in the transit time of the impulse, ischemic changes in the ECG, impaired impulse conduction, deviation of the axis to the hypertrophied area, displacement of the electrical position of the heart, and the location of the transition zone.

If there is difficulty breathing, there is a desire to stop and catch your breath with the usual load, if there is pressure in the chest, or causeless weakness occurs, then you should consult a doctor.

The cardiologist will prescribe a complete clinical, biochemical and instrumental examination. Upon examination, specific heart murmurs and an increase in its boundaries may be detected. An X-ray examination will show how enlarged the heart is and in what parts. An echocardiogram will help determine the location of disorders and the degree of decrease in heart activity.

Once a diagnosis of left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy has been established, treatment depends on the degree of its severity and the severity of the patient’s general condition.

Changes in heart size are a consequence of other diseases. When treating a patient diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy, the causes that led to it are of primary importance.

Depending on the severity of the patient’s condition and how severe the left ventricular hypertrophy is, treatment can be carried out in a hospital or at home.

A prerequisite for successful treatment is a correct lifestyle. If this recommendation is ignored, any therapy is useless.

Constant monitoring of ECG and blood pressure levels and regular examination by a cardiologist are required.

If your condition is satisfactory, regular walks in the fresh air are good. Also, moderate left ventricular hypertrophy does not exclude race walking and swimming at a gentle pace. Excessive physical activity is avoided.

Medicines are taken throughout life. These are calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, antihypertensive drugs, metabolic cardiac medications.

Complications are more than dangerous. This includes circulatory failure, rhythm disturbances, ischemic changes, and myocardial infarction.

Cardiovascular failure is the inability of the heart to perform its pumping function and provide the body with blood.

Rhythm disturbances occur as a result of the fact that the conduction system of the heart does not have the ability to hypertrophy. The time and quality of impulse conduction changes. Areas may appear where impulses do not pass through.

Ischemic manifestations (lack of oxygen in the tissue) occur due to the relatively slow development of the capillary network in the hypertrophied heart tissue. As a result, she does not receive enough oxygen. On the other hand, when working with increased load, the myocardial need for oxygen increases significantly.

For hypertrophy of the left ventricle of the heart, treatment continues for a long time. It has been proven that early treatment and the patient’s responsible attitude towards it can significantly improve the quality and length of life of patients.

Video about left ventricular hypertrophy:

The heart is the first to respond to high blood pressure. In order to maintain normal blood circulation and supply oxygen to the entire body, it is forced to work in enhanced mode. Moreover, the higher the pressure, the harder the work the heart has to do. Because of this, the walls of the heart (mainly the left ventricle) gradually thicken (hypertrophy), and its size increases.

Initially, this, of course, helps the heart withstand increased stress. But an enlarged heart needs more nutrition, and the blood supply to the heart itself only worsens with hypertension. So the heart is not even able to feed itself!

Over time, the hypertrophied heart muscle simply depletes. The heart wears out and begins to work intermittently (arrhythmias develop). Then the walls of the heart gradually become thinner, lose their former elasticity, and the heart begins to weaken. It can no longer contract with the same force as before: the pump gradually loses power. This is how heart failure gradually develops: increased fatigue, weakness even after little physical activity, shortness of breath, and swelling.

For example, here is one of our pharmacy’s regular customers: a handsome man in the prime of his life, slanting shoulders, two meters tall. But he is hypertensive, and the hypertension is long-standing and advanced. The result is heart failure.

He gives the impression of being a healthy, athletic person. But at the same time, he can’t let alone go for a run, or even just walk at a brisk pace—he immediately begins to feel out of breath. A very indicative example of a frivolous attitude towards one’s own health in general and high blood pressure in particular!

As a result of heart failure, the blood supply to all organs and tissues is disrupted. This is the first step towards the emergence of all kinds of diseases. And in combination with hypertension, which further impairs blood supply, the risk of serious complications, including heart attack, increases almost fivefold!

What is a heart attack? This is the death of part of the heart muscle due to blockage of the coronary arteries that supply the heart. We have already talked about how this happens. But it is worth adding that if earlier doctors considered atherosclerosis to be the main cause of heart attack, now they are sure that hypertension alone is enough!

The first symptom of a heart attack is prolonged and severe pain in the heart (sharp piercing or squeezing, as if someone is squeezing the chest with a vice). The pain may be accompanied by pallor, severe weakness and dizziness, profuse sweating, heart rhythm disturbances, suffocation, nausea, vomiting, and fainting. But in any case, if the pain cannot be relieved with nitroglycerin, you must urgently call an ambulance and immediately take an aspirin tablet (it is best to chew “heart” aspirin, dosage 325 mg).

After a heart attack, blood pressure often drops. But it’s too early to rejoice at this - this is not a cure for hypertension. It’s just that part of the heart muscle has suffered, and the heart can no longer cope with the increased load. As the pump power decreases, the pressure also decreases.

You probably have at least one scar. Look: hair does not grow at the scar site. That is, the skin loses one of its functions. The same thing happens to a heart that has had a heart attack. In place of the dead tissue, scar connective tissue forms. But it is not able to work in the same way as the heart muscle, so it becomes increasingly difficult for the heart to fulfill its “duties.”

Let me remind you again: prevention, prevention and prevention again! If you reliably control your blood pressure and lead a healthy lifestyle, you are not at risk of a heart attack. And besides, I recommend that all hypertensive patients have an electrocardiogram at least from time to time. This is the most effective way to avoid dangerous heart complications, including heart attack!

Symptoms of arterial hypertension (hypertension)

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For a long time, the symptoms of arterial hypertension may not manifest themselves, and patients may not even be aware that they have hypertension. They may not complain about their health and lead a fairly active lifestyle, although sometimes they may experience sudden attacks of “lightheadedness,” dizziness and weakness. However, even then the malaise is attributed to banal overwork. But it is at this moment that you should think about blood pressure and try to measure it. Complaints of arterial hypertension (hypertension) appear in case of damage to the so-called target organs, that is, the organs most sensitive to surges in blood pressure. The appearance of frequent headaches, dizziness, tinnitus in a person, deterioration in performance and memory - all this indicates primary changes in the blood circulation of the brain. Further, these ailments are accompanied by flashing “floaters” before the eyes, double vision, difficulty speaking, numbness of the limbs, and weakness. At the initial stage of the disease, changes in blood circulation may be transient. But the progression of the disease can result in cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction.

Left ventricular hypertrophy

The earliest and most persistent symptom of arterial hypertension is hypertrophy (or enlargement) of the left ventricle, caused by an increase in its mass against the background of thickening of the heart cells - cardiomyocytes. With an increase in the thickness of the ventricular wall, the chamber of the heart itself subsequently expands. It should be noted that left ventricular hypertrophy is an unfavorable prognostic sign. It significantly increases the risk of developing heart failure, sudden death, ventricular arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease. As left ventricular dysfunction progresses, symptoms of arterial hypertension appear, such as: chronic heart failure, pulmonary edema, paroxysmal nocturnal shortness of breath or cardiac asthma, shortness of breath during exercise. Against this background, ventricular fibrillation and myocardial infarction often develop. With hypertension, morphological changes occur in the aorta, and with increasing pressure it expands and rupture or dissection may occur. Kidney damage may also occur, manifested by the presence of protein in the urine, cylindruria, and microhematuria. But renal failure, which does not have a malignant course in hypertension, develops extremely rarely. In addition, the patient may experience a decrease in light sensitivity, deterioration of vision and the development of blindness. Therefore, to summarize the above, it should be noted that arterial hypertension must be treated very carefully.

headache;
pain in the heart area;
shortness of breath caused by exercise;
swelling of the legs;
visual impairment.

Headache

It may be caused by tension in the tendon cap or muscles of the soft covering of the head. It can also occur against the background of well-defined physical or psycho-emotional stress, gradually subsiding after the conflict is resolved and rest. When talking about this headache, they mean tension headache. This pain can manifest itself as a feeling of the head being pulled together by a “hoop” or “bandage”, accompanied by dizziness and nausea. Pain that lasts for a long time can lead to increased irritability, sensitivity to noise, and short temper.

Pain in the heart area

With arterial hypertension, pain in the heart area differs from angina attacks. As a rule, they are localized to the left of the sternum or at the apex of the heart and can occur during emotional stress and at rest, but are not provoked by physical activity. Heart pain due to hypertension is not relieved by nitroglycerin and can last for quite a long time.

Shortness of breath with hypertension

Initially, shortness of breath in patients with arterial hypertension occurs against the background of physical overload, but later it also appears at rest. These symptoms of arterial hypertension may indicate extensive damage to the heart muscle, as well as the progression of heart failure.

HEART FAILURE

occurs when the heart muscle is overloaded and overworked (hypertension, heart defects), its blood supply is disrupted (myocardial infarction), inflammatory (myocarditis), dystrophic (thyrotoxicosis) or cicatricial (cardiosclerosis) changes in the heart muscle. Spill-. include acute and chronic heart failure.

Acute left ventricular heart failure complicates the course of rheumatic heart defects, myocardial infarction, acute myocarditis, acute nephritis, etc. Rapidly increasing stagnation in the pulmonary circulation leads to the development of cardiac asthma and pulmonary edema (see relevant sections).

Acute right ventricular failure develops with an intractable attack of bronchial asthma, thromboembolism of the branches of the pulmonary artery and other diseases accompanied by a sharp increase in pressure in the vessels of the pulmonary circulation or inflammatory, dystrophic, cicatricial changes in the muscle of the right ventricle, which does not have time to distill all the blood from the right ventricle atrium into the pulmonary artery, - acute congestion occurs in the veins of the systemic circulation.

Symptoms and course. Elevated position of the patient in bed, acrocyanosis, swelling and pulsation of the veins of the neck, enlargement and pain on palpation of the liver, tachycardia, expansion to the right of the boundaries of relative dullness of the heart, with a long duration of decompensation - edema; the condition threatens the patient's life and requires emergency treatment.

Treatment. Bloodletting - 400-500 ml (contraindicated if blood pressure drops), slow intravenous administration of 0.5 ml of 0.05% solution of strophanthin (or 1 ml of 0.06% solution of korglykon), 10 ml of 2.4% solution of aminophylline (especially indicated for signs of bronchial or cardiac asthma and is contraindicated in low blood pressure) and 2 ml (40 mg) of Lasix with 10-20 ml of saline or 5% glucose solution. If intravenous administration of drugs is impossible, strophanthin is administered intramuscularly in the same dose (with 2 ml of 2% novocaine solution), 1 ml of 24% diaphylline solution (or 2 ml of 12% aminophylline solution), 1-2 ml of novourite (or 40-80 mg furo-semide orally).

In addition to cardiac drugs and diuretics, pathogenetic therapy is used depending on the nature of the underlying disease: drugs that relieve bronchial spasms for bronchial asthma, anticoagulants for pulmonary embolism, etc. After the patient’s condition improves, they must be hospitalized (usually by ambulance on a stretcher, accompanied by a paramedic) .

Chronic heart failure. Symptoms and course. Most often, the first manifestations of circulatory failure are shortness of breath and tachycardia, which appear with slight physical stress; at rest there are no symptoms of decompensation. This is stage I; it lasts for several months or even years, then, in addition to increasing shortness of breath, cyanosis, and weakness, symptoms of right ventricular failure are added - liver enlargement, swelling in the legs; the heart is enlarged, soft moist rales are heard in the lungs; attacks of cardiac asthma are possible, i.e. stage II of circulatory failure occurs. It is customary to distinguish two periods: in the first (PA stage), signs of weakness of the left heart, shortness of breath that persists at rest, congestive wheezing, and cardiac asthma predominate; in cases where the right parts of the heart (pulmonary heart) are initially affected, a slight enlargement of the liver and other signs of venous stagnation are detected even without physical stress. Compliance with bed rest, the use of mild cardiac and diuretics usually quickly restore the state of compensation. In the second period (PB stage), heart failure becomes total, symptoms of circulatory failure are more pronounced, shortness of breath is constant. Bed rest without vigorous therapy with cardiac and diuretics does not lead to circulatory compensation. In stage III, as a result of a decrease in the reserve capacity of the myocardium, full compensation is impossible even with vigorous therapy; persistent changes develop in the liver (cardiac cirrhosis), kidneys and other organs. Finally, in the terminal dystrophic stage, severe dropsy of the serous cavities, anasarca, and progressive exhaustion of the patient are observed. The given division into stages is arbitrary, but still helps to outline a treatment regimen.

Treatment. Drugs and doses are selected individually, taking into account the stage of the disease. In stages I and PA, bed rest for several days, followed by a gentle regime of work and rest (avoid significant physical and nervous stress, intoxications). Diet (restriction of salt and liquid), systematic use of Adonis herb infusion (3-6 g of herb brewed in 100 ml of water in the form of tea and drunk throughout the day) can completely restore circulatory compensation. In case of ineffectiveness or poor tolerability (irritation of the gastrointestinal tract) of Adonis, as well as in more severe (starting from the PB stage) heart failure, digitalis preparations are used, and the therapeutic dose is prescribed by a doctor (preferably in a hospital); After achieving a therapeutic effect, the doctor transfers the patient to a maintenance dose, which the patient often takes on an outpatient basis for the rest of his life. For digitoxin, the maintenance daily dose most often ranges from 0.05 to 0.15 mg, for digoxin - from 0.25 to 0.5 mg, for isolanide - from 0.5 to 1 mg, for digitalis powder - from 0.1 up to 0.15 g; the patient needs dispensary (medical and then paramedic) observation. In case of severe circulatory failure and immediate hospitalization is not possible, the patient is administered intravenously (if he has not received digitalis preparations in recent days) 0.5 ml of strophanthin solution or 1 ml of corglicon solution with 20 ml of 5% glucose solution.

Diuretics are used simultaneously with heart medications; furosemide; hypothiazide, novorit in combination with potassium chloride; Due to the possibility of disturbances in electrolyte metabolism and other complications, treatment with diuretics also requires medical supervision. If fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity, it is removed by puncturing the abdominal wall with a trocar. Oxygen therapy is required. Along with pathogenetic therapy of heart failure, treatment of the disease that caused it is carried out,

Prevention. Treatment of the underlying disease, adherence to work and rest schedules, diet. Spa treatment in specialized cardiological sanatoriums.

The term "hypertensive heart" is not a metaphor, it has a specific meaning. This is the name given to a physiological change in the form of an enlargement of the left ventricle. It is caused by a frequent increase in blood pressure, the surges of which become sustainable.

In itself, an increase in pressure in medicine is considered a normal phenomenon caused by external and internal factors. However, even a single increase in pressure causes discomfort to a person. Systematic jumps lead to serious physiological consequences.

A hypertensive heart manifests itself in the form of gradually increasing sensations of pain in the left hypochondrium. Performance decreases. If symptoms are ignored for a long time, the disease develops into heart failure. This leads to disruptions in the functioning of the internal systems of the body and ultimately threatens death. In this regard, treatment must be started as early as possible.

Statistics say

Cardiovascular diseases are a new pandemic of the 21st century. They kill the most people on Earth. Among the entire spectrum of vascular and heart diseases, the most common is hypertension. It affects up to a third of the adult population. With age, the incidence increases by 65%. And its consequences are tragic - up to failure of the heart, brain, kidneys, loss of vision, memory, decreased mental abilities, heart attack and stroke.

Recently, an increase in the manifestations of hypertension is often caused by high blood pressure. In this case we are talking about cardiac hypertension. The cause of heart spasms can be a deficiency of magnesium or potassium. Moreover, a person may not even know about the onset of the disease; it does not clearly manifest itself, since the body accumulates a supply of vitamins and microelements. But with increasing magnesium deficiency, hypertension can develop rapidly and inexorably lead to heart failure.

Additional factors such as diabetes, sedentary work, bad habits, age, heredity or stress increase the risk of heart development. Note also that hypertension affects women more often than men.

Symptoms of pathology

The danger of the disease is that the symptoms of a hypertensive heart appear gradually and a person gets used to his condition, often turning to doctors when it is too late. At the initial stage, the disease develops completely in the absence of symptoms. This affects the timeliness of diagnosis of the disease. A person notices the disease when he experiences multiple pressure surges during the day. It is characteristic that, as a rule, it increases in the morning, but decreases during sleep. Jumps are also caused by stressful situations and physical activity.

You can understand that you are at risk of hypertension with heart damage by the following characteristic symptoms:

For what reasons does hypertension occur with predominant damage to the heart?

Causes of the disease

Doctors identify a number of circumstances leading to cardiac hypertension:

Stages of change

Experts distinguish three stages of changes in the work of the hematopoietic organ:

Left-sided hypertrophy due to increasing muscle tension.
Formation of diastolic dysfunction of the cardiac ventricle.
Finally, it progresses to systolic cardiac dysfunction.

Formation of stages of hypertensive heart

Against this background, doctors distinguish four stages of pathology development:

At the first stage, significant disorders have not yet formed and treatment has a positive effect.
During the second stage, physiological changes in the left atrium occur, which leads to shortness of breath and dizziness.
The third stage is characterized by increased blood pressure surges due to enlargement of the left ventricle. Doctors give frightening prognoses to patients at this stage and talk about an increased risk of myocardial infarction or stroke.
In the final fourth stage, hypertensive heart disease with heart failure occurs. Often the severe course of the disease is supplemented by cardiac ischemia. At this stage, even strong drugs do not help the patient cope with the disease and pressure surges.

Diagnosis of hypertension

Symptoms will help determine that there are health problems, but only a specialist can diagnose the disease. To do this, he needs to collect the entire range of tests.

While palpating the heart, the specialist should feel a shift of the impulse to the left and down in the upper part of the organ, as well as a shift to the left of the border of the heart muscle. Auscultation will help him identify murmurs and increased rhythm.

The doctor will be able to make the main diagnosis only after conducting urine and blood tests, determining the antibody titer to streptococci, ECG, EchoCG, radiography and Holter monitoring.

Methods of treating pathology

The effectiveness of treatment directly depends on how early the disease was diagnosed. In any case, you should not try to cure this disease on your own. This requires qualified assistance from a specialist. Only a doctor can conduct a full examination and prescribe effective treatment.

This may be limited to daily medication, or may require inpatient treatment in a hospital. Diet plays an important role in treatment. Folk remedies and home therapy can also help. But if all these methods cannot correct the situation, surgical treatment is prescribed for seriously ill patients.

Drug treatment

As a rule, the doctor prescribes complex therapy, including various groups medicines:

Drugs from the diuretic group that remove excess fluid and salts from the body: Triamterene, Furosemide, Clopamide, Chlorthalidone, Torasemid, Veroshpiron.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: Lisinopril, Captopril, Enalapril, Ramipril, Zofenopril.
Long-acting beta blockers: Atenolol, Propranolol, Nebilet, Anaprilin.
Drugs from the sartan group: Valsartan, Irbesartan.
Antiplatelet agents: Aspirin, Clopidogrel.
Statins: Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin.
Blood vessel impulse blockers: Doxazosin, Terazosin.
Medicines to reduce the risk of thrombosis: Aspicor, Aspirin Cardio, vitamin E.
Vasodilators: “Papazol”, “No-Shpa”.

In what cases is surgery required?

If the disease is advanced, patients are prescribed surgery to improve blood supply to the heart. This is done when the myocardium loses its activity. In this case, a pacemaker is implanted in the patient’s chest or abdomen, which uses electrical impulses to force the heart muscle to work properly.

Traditional methods and diet

Doctors do not deny the effectiveness of non-drug methods that patients resort to during the treatment of hypertensive heart as auxiliary ones. We are talking about traditional medicine.

In particular, one of the most popular during such treatment is a mixture that increases the level of potassium and magnesium in the body. Twice a day, patients should eat a healthy mixture of honey, lemon and apricot kernels. An infusion of thistle leaves is also used as an effective remedy.

To prevent and treat heart disease, one should not forget about proper nutrition. This means giving up salty, spicy and fatty foods, alcohol, coffee and strong tea. You should consume dairy products, vegetables, fruits and herbs, cereals, fish and steamed meat more often, as well as more liquid.

For prevention, you should also give up bad habits and engage in therapeutic types of physical education.

We looked at the stages, treatment and causes of hypertensive heart disease.