In clinical practice, primary hypertension requires long-term medication to control blood pressure in order to avoid certain bodily damages caused by sustained elevation of blood pressure. During the intake of antihypertensive drugs, it is important to pay attention to related issues. If patients engage in incorrect medication behavior, it often leads to suboptimal effects of the medication and may even result in significant fluctuations in blood pressure. Therefore, hypertensive patients need to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions and properly medicate to improve their condition. However, many people tend to make mistakes while taking antihypertensive drugs.
What mistakes might hypertensive patients make while taking antihypertensive drugs?
1. Stopping medication without authorization
In daily life, some individuals do not strictly adhere to medical advice when taking antihypertensive medication. They may stop taking the medication on their own after feeling that their blood pressure has stabilized, which can easily lead to significant blood pressure fluctuations. This is detrimental to the control of hypertension because hypertension is a chronic condition that often requires long-term medication for blood pressure stabilization. While it is normal for blood pressure to decrease after taking medication, it does not mean that hypertension has been cured. Therefore, patients need to adhere to medication according to the doctor’s guidance during the treatment period and must not stop the medication without authorization to prevent further progression of hypertension.
2. Drinking tea while taking antihypertensive drugs
Some individuals often drink tea when taking antihypertensive medication. This behavior can also affect blood pressure and even reduce the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs, leading to uncontrolled hypertension. Tea contains tannic acid, which can react with medications and affect the efficacy of many drugs. Consistently drinking tea while taking antihypertensive drugs will render the medication ineffective, delay the treatment of hypertension, and may even lead to increased blood pressure. Therefore, it is advisable to take antihypertensive drugs with warm boiled water in daily life.
3. Unclear dosage
After a consultation, doctors usually provide hypertensive patients with medication along with clear instructions on how to use it and the dosage. If patients do not remember the dosage and frequently fail to pay attention to it while taking the medication, they may face blood pressure fluctuations and even bodily harm due to blind drug use. Antihypertensive drugs come in different dosages and long-acting or short-acting forms; therefore, it is crucial to understand the usage and dosage to prevent further progression of hypertension.
4. Inconsistent medication adherence
In daily life, some individuals might not adhere consistently to taking antihypertensive medication. They may skip a day after taking the medication for two or three days, or forget to take the medication when busy. This inconsistent medication pattern can lead to uncontrolled hypertension and even increased blood pressure. During the treatment of hypertension, it is essential to take the medication on time and consistently to achieve better treatment outcomes.
