YOUR SPECIALIST FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION)

Definition and classification | Primary and secondary forms | Diagnostics and therapy | PDF High blood pressure (hypertension)

praevenio offers you comprehensive care and treatment on the subject of high blood pressure (hypertension). Dr. med Ingo Prack is an internist and specialist in angiology (vascular medicine), Dr. med Heiko Zürcher is also an internist as well as a certified hypertensiologist (specialist for high blood pressure) and a member of the German Hypertension League.

If the physical examination results in the diagnosis of high blood pressure, we determine the character of the hypertension and possible causes through further measurements. This often leads to a targeted drug therapy, sometimes also interventional therapy, for the elevated blood pressure.

What you should know about elevated blood pressure - Information from a specialist in high blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a disorder of the cardiovascular system with increased pressure in the arterial vascular system. It often remains undetected for years because it does not necessarily lead to immediate physical symptoms.

High blood pressure is a disease that is often reversible at first, but later becomes chronic. Along with diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking, it is a major risk factor for vascular calcification (arteriosclerosis). Over the course of years to decades, high blood pressure can lead to serious complications such as heart enlargement, stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), heart attack and kidney failure.

With an incidence of around 20% of people and increasing frequency in old age, high blood pressure is a significant health problem in the population.

The blood pressure values are made up of systolic (maximum vascular pressure when the heart is pumping) and diastolic values (vascular pressure when the heart is filling).

Definitions and classification of blood pressure values (in mmHg)

Primary and secondary forms of hypertension

A distinction is made between primary and secondary forms of hypertension. Secondary hypertension is the term used for forms of hypertension in which a causative organic mechanism can be identified. They account for only about 10% of all cases and are mostly the result of chronic renal tissue, renal vascular or, more rarely, hormonal diseases.

The remaining over 90% are called primary or essential hypertension. It results from the interaction of many hereditary factors and multiple environmental influences (including body weight, diet, salt intake, physical activity, stress).

If you search the internet for information on the subject of high blood pressure, you will often come across the question of whether you should rather go to an internist, cardiologist, endocrinologist or nephrologist if you have blood pressure problems? Where patients should go depends on whether they have a primary or secondary form of high blood pressure. Those who do not yet know can first consult a doctor who holds the additional title of hypertensiologist and is thus specialised in the diagnosis and therapy of high blood pressure - in our group practice this is Dr. med. Heiko Zürcher.

Our offer for the diagnosis and therapy of high blood pressure

• Medical history on the person, lifestyle and family
• Health check with blood pressure measurement and examination of the organs relevant to blood pressure
• Laboratory tests of blood and urine for causes and consequences of high blood pressure as well as for testing other risk factors
• Electrocardiography (ECG)
• Cycling stress test (ergometry) to detect hidden high blood pressure (exercise-induced hypertension)
• Long-term blood pressure measurement over 24 hours
• Evaluation of protocols for blood pressure self-measurement in everyday life (important for stress-induced high blood pressure)
• Measurement of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and pulse wave velocity as indicators of arterial occlusive disease and the individual vascular risk
• Ultrasound of kidneys, vessels and heart
• Counselling to improve lifestyle habits (sport, nutrition, stress)
• Advice on medicines (there are many good medicines, but they must suit the patient and their hypertension).