Once I take antihypertensive medicine, do I have to take it for the rest of my life?
Of course not!
It can only be said that most people with high blood pressure need to take antihypertensive drugs for a long time, and even need to take antihypertensive drugs for a lifetime.
The case we introduced today is worthy of your reference.
Mr. Liu, 50 years old, was found to have high blood pressure 1 year ago. At that time, the blood pressure was between 160-170/90-104mmHg for many times. Hypertension was diagnosed.
According to Mr. Liu’s blood pressure, he was advised to start taking antihypertensive drugs. Like most people, Mr. Liu didn’t want to take medicine at the time, saying that once he took medicine, he would have to take it for the rest of his life. What should I do if I can’t stop this antihypertensive drug?
I told him, not necessarily, if he is very self-disciplined and willing to pay, then maybe he will not need to take medicine in the future. One year has passed, Mr. Liu has stopped taking the medicine for one month, and his blood pressure is still around 120/80mmHg.
To understand how Mr. Liu did it, let’s first clarify a few key issues of high blood pressure:
First, you can’t take antihypertensive drugs. Once you take it, you have to take it for a lifetime?
Mr. Liu, like many others, was reluctant to take antihypertensive drugs. Because he thought that if he took antihypertensive drugs, he would have to take it for a lifetime.
This is the most basic causation error problem. Many people think that because they take antihypertensive drugs, they have to take antihypertensive drugs for a lifetime. That is to say, the reason for taking antihypertensive drugs in the future is because I have started taking antihypertensive drugs now.
In fact, the reason for taking antihypertensive drugs for a lifetime is not because you took antihypertensive drugs today, but because you have high blood pressure. We only take antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure.
So, don’t say that blood pressure medicine can’t be taken in the future, once you take it, you have to take it for a lifetime!
Second, do I have to take antihypertensive drugs when I find high blood pressure?
Of course, you don’t have to take antihypertensive drugs right away when you discover high blood pressure.
If it is a new onset of grade 1 hypertension, that is, the blood pressure does not exceed 160/100mmHg, and there are no symptoms and no other diseases, you can temporarily not take antihypertensive drugs.
First, control blood pressure through a healthy lifestyle, such as controlling diet, exercise, regular work and rest, etc. can also lower blood pressure.
Then why did Mr. Liu immediately take antihypertensive drugs? Because Mr. Liu’s blood pressure at that time was between 160-170/90-104mmHg, which was already grade 2 hypertension, he had to take immediate drug intervention. Or high blood pressure combined with diabetes, combined with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, it is also recommended to take drug treatment immediately.
Third, what should I do if my blood pressure is not up to standard after taking a tablet of antihypertensive medicine?
Mr. Liu started taking 1 antihypertensive drug, but his blood pressure did not drop below the ideal 120/80mmHg.
So at this time, should the antihypertensive drug be doubled to 2 tablets, or should it be combined with another antihypertensive drug?
At present, it is suggested that people with high blood pressure have two ways to lower blood pressure. One is regular antihypertensive drugs. The other is a comprehensive healthy life, so it is recommended that Mr. Liu strengthen a healthy life. At the same time, it is not recommended to double the antihypertensive drugs, but to suggest that he take two antihypertensive drugs. This is called combined medication, and it plays the role of 1+1>2.
4. Under what circumstances can antihypertensive drugs be stopped?
But it doesn’t mean that taking antihypertensive drugs, you need to take it for a lifetime.
For example, while taking antihypertensive drugs, the patient himself works very hard and can adhere to a comprehensive healthy life, then the blood pressure will get better and better, and even on the basis of taking the medicine, the blood pressure will become more and more lower. At this time, it is necessary to consider reducing or stopping the drug according to the specific situation.
Of course, there are also some special circumstances, such as due to diseases, age, and various reasons that lead to a gradual decrease in blood pressure, or hypotension, then it is also necessary to stop blood pressure lowering medicine.
5. What did Mr. Liu do?
Mr. Liu started taking 1 antihypertensive drug, but his blood pressure remained at 140/90mmHg, and then another antihypertensive drug was added to Mr. Liu. That is to say, the combination of drugs we are talking about. Two months after the diagnosis of hypertension, Mr. Liu’s blood pressure was controlled to about 120/80mmHg, which is considered an ideal blood pressure.
But Mr. Liu is someone who is reluctant to take medicine, especially more medicine. When I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and started taking antihypertensive drugs, I followed my advice. Start a comprehensive healthy life to lower your blood pressure.
That is, a healthy diet, less salt and less salt, quit smoking and drinking, reduce refined grains; at the same time increase the proportion of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. And began to insist on exercising, basically can do 50 minutes of exercise every day, insist on running. Take regular breaks, don’t stay up late, and reduce eating out. His weight has gradually decreased, from BMI 29 a year ago to BMI 24 now, and his weight has been controlled from obese to normal.
With these comprehensive healthy lives, his blood pressure was reduced from two antihypertensive drugs to one six months ago.
A month ago, Mr. Liu’s blood pressure was 100-110/60mmHg, and he asked me if I could stop the medication. I said just try it out, no guarantees. After the drug is stopped, it needs to be monitored every day. If the blood pressure has been normal, the drug can be stopped.
Now Mr. Liu has been off the drug for 1 month and his blood pressure is still normal.
In short, today’s popular science, we need to understand: there are two ways to lower blood pressure, one is antihypertensive drugs, the other is healthy life. It is not impossible to stop antihypertensive drugs. The key is to vary from person to person. The most important thing is to see if you can maintain a healthy life for a long time!