Once you take antihypertensive drugs, do you have to take them for a lifetime?
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 worth your reference.
Mr. Liu, 50 years old, discovered hypertension 1 year ago, when blood pressure was measured several times between 160-170/90-104mmHg. Hypertension was diagnosed.
According to Mr. Liu's blood pressure, it was suggested that he start taking antihypertensive drugs at that time. Mr. Liu, like most people, did not want to take medicine at that time, saying that once he took medicine, he would have to take it for a lifetime. What to do if this antihypertensive drug can't stop.
I told him that not necessarily, if you are very disciplined and willing to pay, then you may not have to take medicine in the future. 1 year has passed, Mr. Liu has been out of the drug for 1 month from reducing the drug, and his blood pressure is still maintained at about 120/80mmHg.
To understand how Mr. Liu did it, let's first clarify a few key problems with high blood pressure:
First, antihypertensive drugs can not be eaten, once you eat it, you have to eat for a lifetime?
Like many people, Mr. Liu was reluctant to take antihypertensive drugs. Because he thinks that if he takes antihypertensive drugs, he will have to take them for a lifetime.
This is the most basic problem of causal error. 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 am now starting to take antihypertensive drugs.
In fact, the reason for a lifetime of taking antihypertensive drugs is not because you have taken antihypertensive drugs today, but because you have high blood pressure, if you don't take the medicine, it will lead to more serious diseases, so we take antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure.
Therefore, in the future, don't say that antihypertensive drugs can't be eaten, and you have to eat it for a lifetime!
Second, do you have to take antihypertensive drugs when you find high blood pressure?
Of course, it is not necessary to take antihypertensive drugs immediately when high blood pressure is found.
If it is a new type 1 hypertension, that is, the blood pressure does not exceed 160/100 mmHg, and there are no symptoms, and there is no other disease, you can temporarily skip antihypertensive drugs.
First control blood pressure through a healthy lifestyle, such as controlling diet, exercise, regular work and rest, etc. can also reduce blood pressure.
So why did Mr. Liu take antihypertensive drugs immediately at that time? Because Mr. Liu's blood pressure at that time was between 160-170/90-104mmHg, it was already a grade 2 hypertension, so it was necessary to intervene immediately with drugs. Or high blood pressure combined with diabetes, combined with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, it is also recommended to take medication immediately.
Third, take a tablet of antihypertensive drugs, blood pressure is not up to standard, what to do?
Mr. Liu began to take 1 antihypertensive drug, and his blood pressure did not drop below the ideal 120/80mmHg.
So at this time, is it to double the antihypertensive drug into 2 tablets, or to combine another antihypertensive drug?
At present, it is recommended that people with high blood pressure have two ways to reduce blood pressure, one is a regular antihypertensive drug. The other is a comprehensive healthy life, so it is recommended that Mr. Liu strengthen healthy living. At the same time, it is not recommended to double the antihypertensive drugs, but to recommend that he take two antihypertensive drugs. This is called combination medicine and plays the role of 1+1>2.
Fourth, under what circumstances can the antihypertensive drugs be stopped?
But it doesn't mean that taking antihypertensive drugs requires a lifetime.
For example, while taking antihypertensive drugs, the patients themselves are 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 medicines, the blood pressure will become lower and lower. At this time, it is necessary to consider reducing or stopping drugs according to the specific situation.
Of course, there are also some special cases, such as because of disease reasons, because of age, because of various reasons that lead to gradually low blood pressure, or low blood pressure, then it is also necessary to stop antihypertensive drugs.
5. What did Mr. Liu do?
Mr. Liu began to take 1 antihypertensive drug, but his blood pressure kept hovering at 140/90mmHg, and then added another antihypertensive drug to Mr. Liu. That is to say, we are talking about the combination of drugs, 2 months after the diagnosis of hypertension, Mr. Liu's blood pressure was controlled to about 120/80mmHg, which is considered to be the ideal blood pressure.
But Mr. Liu is a person who is reluctant to take medicine, especially more medicine. While diagnosing high blood pressure and starting to take antihypertensive drugs, I listened to my advice. Start a comprehensive healthy life to lower blood pressure.
That is, healthy diet, less salt and less salt, quit smoking and alcohol, reduce fine grains; at the same time increase the proportion of coarse grains, fruits and vegetables. And start to keep exercising, basically do 50 minutes of exercise every day, keep running. Can rest regularly, do not stay up late, reduce eating out. His weight has also gradually come down, from BMI29 1 year ago to BMI24 now, and his weight has been controlled from obesity to normal.
These comprehensive healthy lives have led to his blood pressure reducing his blood pressure from 2 to 1 half a year ago.
A month ago, Mr. Liu's blood pressure was 100-110/60mmHg and asked if I could stop the drug. I said I could only try it, not guarantee it. Daily monitoring is required after discontinuation, and if blood pressure remains normal, the drug can be discontinued.
Now Mr. Liu has stopped taking the drug for 1 month, and his blood pressure is still normal.
In short, today's science popularization, we need to understand: there are two ways to reduce blood pressure, one is antihypertensive drugs, and the other is healthy life. Antihypertensive drugs are not impossible to stop, the key is to vary from person to person, the most important thing is to see if you can adhere to a healthy life for a long time!