For the underlying disease of high blood pressure, many people know that it should be controlled by taking antihypertensive drugs.
However, some patients do not have satisfactory pressure control treatment in real life, even if they insist on taking antihypertensive drugs every day, their blood pressure is still at a high level and cannot be lowered. There are usually several reasons for this situation:
01. Improper taking of antihypertensive drugs
The problem of most patients is not in antihypertensive drugs, but in the wrong time of medication, resulting in a greatly reduced antihypertensive effect.
Human blood pressure is high during the day and low at night, fluctuating in the shape of a spoon. Generally speaking, there are 2 peaks and 2 troughs in 1 day: 6-8 o'clock in the morning is the first peak, and it starts to slowly decline after 8 o'clock, but it is still a high blood pressure level throughout the day, which lasts until about 11 o'clock; 12 o'clock - 14 o'clock is the first trough of blood pressure throughout the day, and then blood pressure begins to rise again, 17 o'clock - 20 o'clock is the second peak; Blood pressure then drops, dropping to the lowest point of the day at 2-3 a.m. the next day, and then gradually rising blood pressure.
Generally, the first 2 hours of the peak blood pressure is a more appropriate time to take the drug, which should be decided according to the physical condition of each person.
● If you take short-acting antihypertensive drugs and eat twice a day, it is recommended to eat them at 6:00 in the morning and 15:00 in the afternoon;
● If you need to take medicine three times a day, it is recommended to eat at 6:00~7:00, 13:00~14:00, 17:00~18:00;
● If you only need to take medicine once a day, it is generally recommended to eat it at 6:00~7:00 in the morning.
02. The "vices" of life have not changed
In addition to genetics, high blood pressure is also related to poor lifestyle.
● In terms of diet, excessive salt intake;
● In terms of life, lack of sleep, high mental stress, heavy drinking, smoking, etc.;
● In terms of sports, lack of exercise, overweight, etc.
These are all common causes of intractable hypertension. Blood pressure is more difficult to control in people who are obese. If these bad habits do not change, drug treatment will have little effect.
03. Kidney damage affects drug efficacy
Clinical studies have found that long-term hypertension can lead to renal arteriolar sclerosis, which reduces and impairs blood flow to the kidneys. Kidney damage, in turn, exacerbates hypertension, leading to a vicious cycle.
Such patients should go to the hospital to check kidney function, choose antihypertensive drugs that have a protective effect on the kidneys, and improve kidney function.
04. Secondary hypertension
If the above points are taken into account and blood pressure is still not well controlled, then the possibility of secondary hypertension should be considered.
Secondary hypertension accounts for 5% ~ 10% in hypertensive people, which is due to the increase in blood pressure caused by certain diseases, such as renal artery stenosis, pheochromocytoma, Cushing's syndrome, aortic stenosis, drug-induced hypertension and other reasons, which may cause secondary hypertension problems, if related diseases can not be well controlled, even if you take antihypertensive drugs, the blood pressure control effect will not be too good.
Finally, I would like to summarize the wrong way to take antihypertensive drugs: contraindications to medication
(1) Do not take antihypertensive drugs without authorization: Antihypertensive drugs are not like cold medicines, as long as the symptoms are met, you can take drugs. Patients with high blood pressure must follow the doctor's advice to take the corresponding antihypertensive drugs when taking antihypertensive drugs.
(2) Do not increase the dose of antihypertensive drugs by yourself: patients with high blood pressure are prone to accidents if they increase the amount of drugs without authorization, such as: dizziness, fatigue, stroke, heart infarction, etc.
(3) Avoid intermittent taking antihypertensive drugs: take antihypertensive drugs when blood pressure rises, stop taking drugs when they are lowered, this intermittent medication not only can not control blood pressure, but also make blood pressure fluctuate abnormally and aggravate the condition.
(4) Avoid taking antihypertensive drugs before going to bed: it is generally recommended that patients should take the drug 2 hours before going to bed, and taking antihypertensive drugs before going to bed may cause cerebral thrombosis, angina pectoris, and myocardial infarction.