- +1 888.407.0616
- info@mdchoicehospicecare.com
- Mon - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM
Menu
Hypertension, or arterial hypertension, is a condition characterized by an increase in blood pressure detected by repeated measurements. Accompanying many diseases, it is considered a risk factor for the development of dangerous complications from the cardiovascular system, including stroke and myocardial infarction.
Hypertension, as the main cause of the pathology in question, requires taking medications, normalizing the patient’s lifestyle and nutrition.
In elderly people (from 60 to 74 years old), arterial hypertension is extremely common, and they are more likely to have both “upper” and “lower” pressure at the same time. But in senile people (from 75 to 89 years old), only the “upper” pressure increases more often, while the “lower” pressure does not change or even decreases somewhat.
A jump in blood pressure with a single measurement may be due to excitement associated with a medical examination. That is why the doctor does not diagnose arterial hypertension in a patient based on a single examination.
It is interesting to note that in the elderly, as opposed to young and middle-aged people, hypertension is more observed in women. And another interesting aspect is that among centenarians blood pressure is usually lower.
Epidemiological surveys of the population of different countries of the world have shown that in some nations, people who lead a primitive lifestyle, the pressure does not increase with age, among them, there are practically no people with arterial hypertension. To some extent, scientists explain this phenomenon by the fact that they live a measured life and at the same time perform considerable physical activity, eat low-calorie, not salted food. But once representatives of these tribes leave their native places and live in modern civilized society, they also often have hypertension.
Arterial hypertension, depending on the causes, doctors divide into two groups: hypertension and symptomatic hypertension. In the first case, it is an independent disease, in the second – a symptom of a disease or any pathological process occurring in the body.
The main causes of hypertension are generally psycho-emotional overload and hereditary predisposition, which can manifest itself even in old age. Factors contributing to the occurrence of this disease include increases salt intake and overeating, leading to obesity.
The course of hypertension in the elderly and old people is usually benign, at this age, there is almost no malignant form of the disease. And hypertensive crises, manifested by sharp rises in blood pressure, deterioration of well-being, occur less often in middle-aged people.
Symptomatic hypertension (there are more than 50) elderly and old people are especially characterized by sclerotic systolic hypertension when only systolic pressure increases. The cause of sclerotic systolic hypertension is an increase in the stiffness of the walls of the aorta and large arteries, due to the sclerotic process, in which there is a diffuse proliferation of harder structures of vascular walls and a decrease in elastic ones. Sclerotic systolic hypertension is easier than hypertension.
Sclerosis, which leads to changes in the structures of the walls of blood vessels, characteristic of the aging of the body, should not be confused with the equally common atherosclerosis, in which the lumen of the arteries is narrowed by atherosclerotic plaques. Most often they affect arteries of the brain, kidneys, and heart. And hypertension in this case develops in response to a deterioration in the supply of blood to these organs.
Symptomatic hypertension in the elderly is often a consequence of chronic pyelonephritis and diabetes.
There can be no unambiguous answers to these questions. Hypertension is a disease and the patient must strictly follow all doctor’s prescriptions. Not all elderly and old people are recommended by the doctor to take hypotensive drugs. And it depends on individual characteristics.
Of course, if a hypertensive crisis has developed, the sharply increased blood pressure must be reduced, and for this, you should immediately call an ambulance. But when you feel good, there is no need to lower blood pressure, since its sharp decrease with large doses of antihypertensive drugs taken in your direction can be dangerous. In this case, the blood drains from the brain, and the sclerosed vessels do not have time to react quickly to a sharp drop in blood pressure, and a life-threatening collapse may develop. The pressure should be reduced gradually, not necessarily bringing it to normal values. This is especially true for those who have been suffering from hypertension for a long time.
As for sclerotic systolic hypertension, it may not affect the well-being of an elderly person. Several scientists consider this form of hypertension as one of the manifestations of physiological aging of the body. But such hypertension often requires treatment.
For the elderly, blood pressure up to 160/95 millimeters of mercury is considered normal. However, some elderly and elderly people experience unpleasant sensations (headache, tinnitus, nausea, dizziness) even at lower blood pressure values. Most often this happens to those whose blood pressure has always been low, and by old age, it has slightly increased. In these cases, medications are usually prescribed to relieve the patient’s condition.
If arterial hypertension is caused by chronic pyelonephritis, diabetes mellitus, or atherosclerosis, then the doctor first of all takes measures to combat these diseases. Recommends the patient a diet, various medications, a certain regime. And depending on the condition, the patient’s well-being decides whether to lower blood pressure.
In some cases, this can not even be done, unless the pressure is, of course, very high. For example, in a pyelonephritis sufferer with incipient renal insufficiency, a decrease in blood pressure can further worsen the already disrupted process of urine filtration in the renal tubules, where blood must pass under a certain pressure.
For those elderly people who have high blood pressure, it is of great importance to streamline the lifestyle, psychological comfort. Many things traumatize the psyche of old people: illnesses — their own and loved ones, loss of relatives, friends, conflict situations in the family, difficulties of everyday life. The older a person is, the more all this hurts him and, of course, contributes to an increase in blood pressure. Relatives of the patient, friends should find an opportunity to take care of an elderly person, pay attention to him, support him in a difficult moment, and encourage him.
It’s worth noting that psychological comfort alone can often reduce pressure, and even more so than antihypertensive drugs.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of physical activity for the elderly and old people. But it should not cause severe fatigue. Excessive physical activity is contraindicated! With great caution, jogging can be recommended, we warn against heavy loads when performing physical exercises that are permissible only for trained people. With benefits for themselves, many can engage in health groups.
With arterial hypertension in the elderly, bed rest, if it is not caused by another disease, is indicated only after a hypertensive crisis and then only for a few hours. Lying in bed is harmful!
Elderly people, the elderly should not get out of bed quickly, especially after a night’s sleep. And first of all, this applies to those of them who have dizziness, as well as taking antihypertensive drugs.
