In the treatment of hypertension, there are often two misconceptions among patients: one is that once hypertension is detected, they should all take medication to solve it; the other is that they should take medication only when they have hypertension and have symptoms.
Both of these statements are incorrect.
High blood pressure, which level of medication should be taken?
Generally speaking, for friends with hypertension level 1 (i.e. blood pressure = 140-159 mmHg / 90-99 mmHg) and no target organ damage (heart, brain, kidney, retina, etc.) yet, we sometimes let diet and exercise work first, observe for 3-6 months, and then rely on medication to help if the results are not satisfactory.
However, for those with blood pressure levels above hypertension level 2 (i.e., blood pressure ≥ 160/100 mmHg), or those who are at high or very high risk in terms of risk stratification, we will consider using medications from the outset.
What is the appropriate level of blood pressure to lower?
Many people with hypertension have eaten carefully, exercised, and taken their medications, but still find that they have not adjusted their blood pressure to the state they were in before they got sick. At this point, they start to get discouraged and feel that they have no more value for treatment.
First of all, we have to make it clear that steady blood pressure lowering does not mean that one size fits all, not that all patients with hypertension can just drop to 140 / 90 mmHg or less, compared to the general hypertensive population, patients with target organ damage, blood pressure lowering standards are more stringent.
What does it mean to meet the blood pressure standard? Numerous guidelines for the prevention and treatment of hypertension have long given a clear answer: 1.
1, ordinary hypertensive people should lower their blood pressure to 140/90mmHg or less.
2, diabetes or with kidney disease should be controlled to 130/80mmHg or less.
3, blood pressure should be controlled to below 130/80mmHg for those with nephropathy proteinuria less than 1g/day
4. For people with kidney disease proteinuria greater than 1g/day, blood pressure should be controlled more strictly, and should be below 125/7 mmHg.
Referring to such standards, have you reached the standard?
What should be the regulation of antihypertensive drugs?
In the use of antihypertensive drugs, doctors will also follow the following principles.
1. when adding drugs, doctors tend to start with a small dose and slowly work their way up, in order to get the best results while keeping side effects to a minimum.
2, in the case of single drug use is not effective, doctors will consider the use of two or more drugs in combination, rational use, can make a significant improvement in antihypertensive effect and reduce adverse reactions.
3, the best use of once-a-day dosing and 24-hour continuous antihypertensive effect of drugs, which not only facilitates friends with hypertension, improve compliance with treatment, but also to ensure long-term blood pressure stability, more conducive to the protection of target organs.
4, slowly lowering blood pressure, to 2 to 3 months to achieve the standard is appropriate. If the blood pressure is lowered too quickly, the blood flow in the originally filled blood vessels will be relatively reduced, and the human organs will not be supplied with the “usual” amount of blood, which may induce certain diseases.
To sum up, hypertension is a chronic disease and cannot be treated in a hurry. Follow your doctor’s instructions and take your time to make your blood pressure drop more safely and smoothly.