There are 4 major rumors about taking blood pressure medicine, each of which brings risks!
For the general public who are over 35 years old and are increasingly feeling the urging of age, high blood pressure may be like a warning sign that suddenly appears on the road of life, reminding everyone of the fragility of health and the importance of lifestyle.
In this context, blood pressure medication has become a frequent guest in many family medicine cabinets. There are a lot of rumors about these antihypertensive drugs in the market, and some of them will even have a great impact on the health of patients.
Before we get into these myths, let's be clear about one thing: high blood pressure isn't a piece of cake. It can silently damage your blood vessels, put pressure on your heart, brain, and even your eyes, which can lead to a range of serious complications over time.
Antihypertensive drugs work to help control blood pressure and prevent these complications from occurring. But you know, there are so many rumors about blood pressure medication that they are like snowflakes in winter, dense and overwhelming.
This rumor - "Once you start taking blood pressure medicine, you have to take it for a lifetime, and if you stop, it will be miserable". Let's talk about what's going on. In fact, the use of antihypertensive drugs is adjusted based on the patient's current blood pressure status and physical response.
Of course, it is undeniable that high blood pressure is a long-term opponent and many times requires continuous medication to control it. But that doesn't mean you have to be tied to a bottle.
If your blood pressure is well controlled, your lifestyle changes are positive, and your weight is well managed, your doctor may adjust your medication plan and, in some cases, even recommend stopping it. So, it's important to maintain good communication with your doctor and don't take matters into your own hands.
About the statement that "taking blood pressure medicine is addictive". This sounds like a hairy sound, but in fact, it is also a big misunderstanding. Dependence, which has a strict definition in medicine, mainly refers to the physiological need of the body for a certain drug ingredient, resulting in withdrawal symptoms after stopping the drug.
Antihypertensive drugs are not opioids, and they do not cause physiological dependence. Of course, if you stop taking the drug suddenly, the blood pressure may rebound because of the original problem, but this is not dependency, but because the high blood pressure itself has not been resolved. The correct way to do this is to gradually adjust the medication under the guidance of a doctor, rather than overnight.
When it comes to antihypertensive drugs, some people may be more worried that "once the drug is stopped, the blood pressure will get out of control", which is also a sign of insufficient understanding of the effect of the drug. We must know that antihypertensive drugs are used to help control blood pressure, not a panacea for high blood pressure.
They seem to help you loosen the tight bow a little bit, but if you let go, the bow will return to its original shape. That's why, the medicine can't be stopped casually, but it's not because of dependence, but to keep blood pressure stable.
Another myth about blood pressure medications on the market is that "all blood pressure drugs have serious side effects". This is a bit absolute, in fact, not all blood pressure medication will give you an adverse reaction.
The side effects of medication vary from person to person, some people may feel dizzy and weak, and some people may not feel at all. Different types of antihypertensive drugs have different mechanisms of action and very different side effects.
When doctors prescribe medicines, they will choose the most suitable medicine for you based on your specific situation. When it comes to side effects, it's not about just hiding from them, but about communicating with your doctor to find the most appropriate solution.
Regarding the statement that "you can stop taking medicine if your blood pressure is normal", we also have to look at it dialectically. First, a "normal" blood pressure may be a sign that blood pressure medication is working, rather than that your blood pressure has healed on its own. Just because your blood pressure is well controlled doesn't mean that the cause of your high blood pressure has gone away.
The right thing to do is not to stop taking the medicine even if your blood pressure is temporarily normal, but to check your blood pressure regularly and follow the advice of your doctor, who will give you professional guidance based on changes in your blood pressure and overall health.
Blood pressure medication is like a double-edged sword, if used well, it can help you stabilize your position, and if used poorly, it may backfire. The correct attitude is to face it positively, use drugs rationally, have regular follow-up visits, and maintain communication with doctors, rather than following the crowd and listening to rumors.
On the road to health, each of us must be our own backbone. What we need to do is to use a scientific attitude to deal with every rumor that may pose a risk to health, and to understand and benefit as soon as possible, which is the wisdom of life that we should have.
Myths often mention that antihypertensive drugs can cause kidney damage, which is a valid but overblown-up claim. In fact, some antihypertensive drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) can protect kidney function while controlling blood pressure, especially in people with diabetes or chronic kidney disease.
The kidneys are one of the organs that regulate blood pressure, and long-term uncontrolled hypertension is the main culprit that leads to kidney damage. Of course, the use of any drug needs to monitor the patient's renal function indicators to ensure the suitability and safety of the drug.
Antihypertensive drugs should only be needed in patients with very high blood pressure. This perception ignores the importance of early intervention. In the early stage of the course of hypertension, the occurrence of serious complications such as heart disease and stroke can be effectively prevented through the rational use of antihypertensive drugs. Doctors develop a personalized treatment plan based on the patient's overall risk assessment, including blood pressure levels, the presence or absence of comorbidities, and individual differences.
Natural remedies, such as a sensible diet, regular exercise, and stress reduction techniques, can be beneficial for blood pressure control. These methods do not completely replace antihypertensive drugs in all cases. Hypertension is a complex disease that involves many factors such as genetics, environment, and lifestyle.
For some patients, even with a healthy lifestyle, medication is needed to achieve the desired goal of blood pressure control. Doctors often recommend lifestyle interventions in combination with medication to get the best results.
