The doctor mentioned the advantages of changing blood pressure standards in cardiology

Lowering the threshold of "high normal" blood pressure from 140/90 to 130/80 mmHg dramatically changes the approach to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Now it is possible to identify patients at the high-risk stage without waiting for hypertension to develop, said Tatiana Maklakova, a doctor of integrative medicine, cardiologist, lipidologist at the Be Healthy Murmansk Center, on March 11.

"Previously, we waited for the disease (hypertension) to develop in order to start treating it. Now we can identify patients at an earlier stage, at a high—risk stage. This allows you to start non-drug correction (lifestyle) much earlier and prevent those changes in blood vessels and heart that become irreversible. Prevention is becoming more aggressive and effective," the doctor noted.

According to her, the cardiovascular system is a closed network, so even a small increase in blood pressure creates chronic stress for the arteries. Constant values in the range of 125-130/80-85 lead to vascular microtrauma. In addition, the heart has to work with overload, which causes a thickening of its muscle wall — myocardial hypertrophy.

She clarified that the risk of heart attack or stroke increases linearly, starting from around 115/75. Constant pressure at the level of 135/85 has a destructive effect, gradually impairing the blood supply to the heart and increasing the likelihood of arrhythmia.

Substrate to the rescue: the Russian Federation has learned to deliver stimulator cells to the heart

What are the possibilities of transplanting organic patches capable of rhythm control

In the early stages, it is often possible to normalize the condition without the use of medications, the specialist added. A key factor is a salt-restricted diet of up to five grams per day, as excess sodium retains water in the body. Daily aerobic exercises of 30-40 minutes are also effective, which train the elasticity of blood vessels. Additionally, the doctor recommends weight control, as extra pounds increase the load on the heart. Quitting smoking and alcohol helps to avoid spasms and disorders in the regulation of vascular tone.

Maklakova explained that if the indicators consistently stay above 120/80, then daily monitoring (SMAD) should be carried out to exclude accidental fluctuations. When the numbers are 130/80, it is necessary to check the lipid profile, since the combination of high blood pressure and cholesterol greatly increases the health risks.

Usually, according to the doctor, experts assess the overall risk on a SCORE scale, taking into account gender, age and the presence of bad habits. In cases of high total risk, the decision to start drug therapy can be made even at a pressure of 130/80. The target level for active people today is 125-130/80 mmHg, the cardiologist concluded.

Natalia Solovyova, MD, cardiologist at the Semeynaya clinic network, said on February 3 that excessive sweating for no apparent reason is not just discomfort, but a possible signal from the body about serious cardiovascular diseases.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.