Two truths about high blood pressure

  I. The benefit of antihypertensive treatment comes from the blood pressure reduction itself Although different types of antihypertensive drugs have their own advantages, for example, the use of ARB, ACEI, β-blockers, diuretics and other drugs for people with hypertension combined with heart failure can not only effectively lower blood pressure, but also reduce the burden on the heart. Among them, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors represented by ARB and ACEI can slow down the myocardial remodeling and effectively improve the long-term prognosis of patients. But most importantly, lowering the blood pressure itself can bring great benefits, reducing the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, stroke). Therefore, the statement that “expensive antihypertensive drugs are good drugs” is one-sided.  Second, the goal of blood pressure control varies from person to person, emphasizing individualization.  For hypertensive patients under 65 years old, it is best to control below 130/80mmHg. For those over 65 years of age, it can be relaxed to below 150/90mmHg as appropriate. For patients with cerebral artery stenosis, blood pressure may have to be around 160/100mmHg to ensure normal blood supply. Reference should also be made to the presence of other co-morbidities such as diabetes, renal insufficiency, tumors, etc. Therefore, professional doctors will give different antihypertensive programs and set different antihypertensive goals according to the characteristics of each hypertensive patient. Therefore, it is not only necessary to take the antihypertensive drugs prescribed by the doctor in a standardized way in daily life, but also to monitor the blood pressure regularly to clarify whether the standard control is achieved.