I am 73 years old. I have no complaints, and my blood pressure is always high - 190/100, which is quite dangerous. I'm not depriving myself of anything. What should I do?
The World He alth Organization defines as normal arterial pressure corresponding to 140/90 millimeters of mercury. Values up to 150/95 millimeters are defined as borderline. With values of 165/95 millimeters, we can talk about arterial hypertension. However, blood pressure changes constantly and has marked fluctuations during the day, both in normal and stressed subjects. In most cases, the cause of hypertension is unknown, at least in the current state of medical knowledge. In this case, we are actually talking about essential hypertension, since 90 percent of hypertensives belong to this category. For the rest, there is a precise and demonstrable reason. In these cases, we talk about secondary hypertension as a consequence of another disease, for example, kidney disease - narrowing of the renal arteries, benign tumors of the adrenal glands or hormonal disturbances.
CAUTION
High blood pressure can be dangerous because: the hypertensive state makes the heart work harder than average, which, if prolonged, can lead to thickening and damage to the heart itself; as blood flows through the vessels at higher pressure, they are subjected to greater wear and tear, which can seriously damage them. From this unfavorable situation, the tissues and organs supplied by the affected vessels, and more precisely the heart, brain, kidneys, eyes, suffer in turn. Hypertension also facilitates the occurrence of arterial thrombosis.
Essential hypertension can be treated, but not radically cured. Modern drugs (inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, diuretics, vasodilators) can keep blood pressure under control, but if they are discontinued, hypertension reappears. This does not mean that regular therapy is useless - on the contrary, it has been proven that bringing the pressure values to the norm avoids the harmful consequences of hypertension over the years. In addition, these drugs have already been widely tested and, if used under medical supervision, pose no risk to the patient. It is important to know that once you start taking blood thinners, you take them for life. They can be replaced with some alternative medicines in case these have reduced their effect, but it is impossible to stop them. It is a mistake to take them only in case of high blood pressure or in crises.
In principle, essential hypertension cannot be prevented. However, some measures can be useful, such as performing proper physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding constant emotional stress. As for the symptoms of high blood pressure, in reality it does not cause any characteristic disturbance. In some cases, headaches, buzzing in the ears, bright spots before the eyes may appear. It should be known, however, that the same symptoms can also appear in completely he althy individuals.
The most important thing is to regularly drink the medicines that the doctor will prescribe, not to stress, eat more vegetables and fruits, reduce cigarettes, concentrated alcohol, red wine and excessively s alty and fatty foods. Then your longevity is tied in a towel.
