Many friends have the problem of hypertension, and most people are taking antihypertensive drugs to control their blood pressure. However, some friends still complain that after taking antihypertensive drugs, their blood pressure is not well controlled, thinking that they have chosen the wrong medication. In Dr. Zhang’s view, there is no blood pressure that cannot be lowered. Many friends who take antihypertensive drugs still experience poor blood pressure control not because they chose the wrong medication, but because they did not pay attention to many details. Today, Dr. Zhang will discuss this issue with everyone.
In fact, there are many reasons why blood pressure remains poorly controlled after medication, summed up into two main aspects. One is improper medication, and the other is inadequate lifestyle management.
What are the common mistakes in medication?
The common errors in medication mainly include the following three points:
– Irregular medication: This is the most common improper medication habit. Some friends only take antihypertensive drugs when their blood pressure is high and stop taking them when their blood pressure is low. Many friends choose this medication method out of concern for the side effects of antihypertensive drugs. Little do they know that this way of taking medication not only fails to control blood pressure well but also, because the blood pressure fluctuates frequently, it can easily lead to severe complications such as heart disease, stroke, and brain hemorrhage and may even cause kidney function failure over time.
If you want to control blood pressure effectively, you must maintain the drug concentration in the blood at a reasonable level and keep it stable. Various antihypertensive drugs have their own metabolism cycles, especially many drugs are now long-acting drugs that often require more than 2 weeks to achieve a stable blood drug concentration. Continuously starting and stopping medication, how could the blood pressure be well controlled? Therefore, once you start taking antihypertensive drugs, do not stop them randomly.
– Frequent changing of antihypertensive drugs: Many friends have a habit of seeing others achieve good blood pressure control with certain antihypertensive drugs and then switching their own antihypertensive medication to the same type, hoping to achieve a good antihypertensive effect. Dr. Zhang believes that there is no such thing as the best antihypertensive drug in the world. Different antihypertensive drugs are suitable for different populations, and the antihypertensive drug suitable for others may not be suitable for you!
Taking commonly used angiotensin receptor blockers as an example, for the majority of friends with hypertension, this type of medication is very effective. However, for some friends with low-renin hypertensive subtype, taking antihypertensive drugs may not achieve a good effect, and some friends’ blood pressure may even rise instead of falling.
Some friends believe that after taking antihypertensive drugs for a while, they will develop drug resistance, so they frequently change antihypertensive drugs to prevent resistance. This is scientifically unfounded as antihypertensive medication does not develop resistance. If some friends find that their blood pressure control is poor after taking medication for a period, it is due to the progression of arteriosclerosis, not drug resistance. Frequent changes in medication will only lead to blood pressure fluctuations and induce adverse complications.
– Incorrect use of antihypertensive drugs: Different antihypertensive drugs have variations in their methods of administration – some need to be taken on an empty stomach, while others need to be taken after meals. Prior to medication, it is crucial to carefully read the instructions or consult your doctor to understand the impact of food on the drugs and decide whether to take them after meals.
At the same time, friends with hypertension need to understand their blood pressure fluctuation pattern. Each person’s blood pressure has a certain pattern of fluctuation; some friends have higher blood pressure during the day and lower at night, while others have the opposite pattern. Depending on the blood pressure fluctuation pattern, friends should choose different times for medication intake.
For friends with higher blood pressure at night, it is often recommended to take antihypertensive medication in the evening, while for friends with higher blood pressure during the day, it is advisable to take antihypertensive medication in the morning. How can you know your blood pressure fluctuation pattern? It is recommended that friends with hypertension undergo a 24-hour dynamic blood pressure check at the hospital to understand their blood pressure fluctuations and choose a suitable medication time. Only then can blood pressure be effectively controlled.
These are the three common mistakes in medication methods. Let’s now take a look at the important points to consider in lifestyle management.
What details do friends with hypertension need to pay attention to in their lifestyle habits to maintain stable blood pressure?
There are four common incorrect lifestyle habits that lead to unstable blood pressure:
– Not controlling salt intake: The relationship between high-salt diet and hypertension is closely related. Excessive salt intake increases the osmotic pressure in the blood, causing fluid from the tissues to enter the blood vessels, increasing the fluid volume in the blood vessels, naturally leading to high blood pressure. Excess salt intake also promotes the secretion of renin-angiotensin in the body, also causing high blood pressure.
A normal adult’s daily salt intake should not exceed 6 grams, which is roughly equivalent to the amount of salt that can be contained in a bottle cap. Friends with hypertension need to control their salt intake to less than 3 grams. With the progress of life and changes in dietary habits, many friends often eat out, and to cater to most people’s preferences, restaurant food often contains high salt content, which easily leads to excessive salt intake.
Many northerners like to eat pickled foods and seasonings often contain hidden salt, leading to an over-intake of salt. Without controlling the salt intake, good antihypertensive effects cannot be achieved.
– Obesity and poor weight control: Obesity is a very important factor leading to high blood pressure. After gaining weight, the heart needs to pump out more blood to meet the body’s needs, naturally leading to high blood pressure. Moreover, obesity can lead to insulin resistance in the body, exacerbating the conditions of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia. These diseases interact and promote each other, ultimately leading to corresponding complications.
For friends with hypertension, it is essential to control their weight within a normal range to effectively control blood pressure and maintain its stability.
– Not abandoning unhealthy lifestyle habits: Many friends with hypertension have some unhealthy habits, including smoking, drinking alcohol, irregular sleeping patterns, and staying up late. These bad habits can cause hormone imbalances, leading to increased blood pressure. Smoking and alcohol consumption will accelerate the progression of arteriosclerosis, increase vascular resistance, and raise blood pressure.
Moreover, the impact of sleep on blood pressure should not be underestimated. Friends with hypertension know that sleep is crucial for blood pressure control. If we compare the human body to a battery, sleep is equivalent to recharging this battery. If sleep is insufficient for a long time, it is like the body being low on power for an extended period, making it very easy to exacerbate the course of hypertension and lead to poor blood pressure control.
– Prolonged mental stress: Being in a state of long-term anxiety and stress can increase the level of renin secretion in the body, causing an increase in heart rate, blood vessel constriction, and ultimately leading to high blood pressure. Therefore, friends with hypertension need to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude and avoid prolonged periods of anxiety and stress.
Dr. Zhang has many friends with hypertension around him. Due to high work and life pressure, although they are taking medication regularly, their blood pressure is still poorly controlled, which is closely related to their mental and emotional factors.
In summary
The treatment of hypertension involves both medication and lifestyle management. If there are problems in either area, good blood pressure control cannot be achieved. When taking antihypertensive drugs, they must be taken regularly according to the instructions and doctor’s advice, and the timing and method of taking medication should not be changed arbitrarily, as this can lead to poor blood pressure control and easily cause complications. Even if you take the medication correctly, you must not neglect lifestyle management. You must adopt a healthy lifestyle, or else no matter how many antihypertensive drugs you take, it will be in vain and have no effect.
Regarding the question of “Why is blood pressure still poorly controlled despite taking antihypertensive medication every day,” Dr. Zhang has discussed it here with friends. If you agree with my perspective, feel free to like, leave comments, or share. Creating content is not easy; thank you for your support. If you have other questions or opinions, please leave a comment in the comments section. Good questions are also an important source of inspiration for my content creation. Looking forward to your help. I am Dr. Zhang Wei, a specialized doctor, and until next time.
