A hypertensiologist is a doctor who deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. It is a civilization disease that affects more and more people, and if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, including heart failure, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, heart attack or stroke. In Poland, hypertensiology as a medical specialization was recognized in 2006.

Hypertensiologyas a separate specialization was established in 2006 in response to the need for specialist doctors who would face the increasing incidence of hypertension. In our country, this disease affects every third adult, and another 25-30 percent. is at risk of disease. Doctorhypertensiologistdeals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in adult patients as well as in children, adolescents and pregnant women (also in the postpartum period).

Hypertensiologist - what tests does he / she perform?

Patients who report their blood pressure repeatedly and give incorrect results come to the hypertensiologist. Hypertension is defined as the systolic blood pressure equal to or higher than 140 mm Hg, and the diastolic blood pressure equal to or higher than 90 mm Hg. The correct pressure is 120/80 mm Hg.

Patients visiting a hypertensiologist also complain of less specific symptoms, including:

  • dizziness
  • tinnitus
  • headache, especially in the back of the head
  • feeling of pressure in the head
  • frequent nose bleeds
  • fatigue
  • excessive irritability
  • palpitations
  • pains in the chest area
  • shortness of breath
  • insomnia

Patients suffering from diabetes, after a stroke, suffering from metabolic syndrome or with kidney failure are also referred to a hypertensiologist, because they are more prone to arterial hypertension. A separate group of patients are elderly people after surgery and pregnant women struggling with arterial hypertension, who should be under special care not only of a gynecologist, but also of a hypertensiologist.

Hyperensiologist - what does the first visit to a specialist look like?

It belongs to the hypertensiologistbring the results of the research carried out so far. The hypertensiologist will conduct a detailed interview with the patient - he will ask about previous diseases and arterial hypertension in the family as well as about the patient's lifestyle, because the disease can often be aggravated by improper diet, lack of exercise and excessive stress.

The hypertensiologist will also carry out a physical examination - he will measure your blood pressure. He may also order other tests, including: blood count, fasting glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, creatinine levels, uric acid levels, potassium and sodium levels, and urine potassium and sodium excretion levels.

Worth knowing

The hypertensiologist may also decide to perform more detailed tests, e.g. 24-hour ABPM (automatic blood pressure measurement), which monitors the patient's blood pressure 24 hours a day, heart echo, ECG, ultrasound of carotid and renal arteries, fundus examination . The aim of diagnostics is to determine whether we are dealing with primary or secondary arterial hypertension (in the latter case, hypertension is a symptom of another disease).

Hypertensiologist - what diseases does he diagnose?

A hypertensiologist deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension and related cardiovascular or organ complications. The doctor also determines the cause of secondary arterial hypertension, which may be due to:

  • narrowing of the renal arteries
  • diseases of the kidney parenchyma
  • obstructive sleep apnea
  • Conn's disease
  • aortic regurgitation
  • hyperthyroidism
  • hyperparathyroidism
  • anemia
  • pheochromocytoma, adrenal tumors

Hypertensiology - treatment methods

Treatment methods for patients with arterial hypertension depend on the cause of its occurrence. In the case of secondary hypertension, it is important to identify the underlying disease. In the case of essential hypertension, when it is difficult to determine the cause, the doctor usually proposes conservative treatment.

Prophylaxis primarily includes: taking care of the right weight (avoiding overweight and obesity), systematic physical activity that lowers blood pressure, a balanced diet (rich in vegetables and fruits and limited in s alt), quitting smoking and changing the mode a life less stressful. If this does not work, the hypertensiologist may recommend drug treatment.

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