Medications for high blood pressure -- all your queries answered

Are you taking medicines to control your BP? Here are answers to all your queries about taking anti-hypertensive drugs from an expert.

Hypertension is a major contributor of heart diseases worldwide, and in India it attributes to about 10 percent of all cardiovascular deaths. The prevalence of hypertension has increased significantly in the past 3 decades and it is predicted that the number of people suffering from hypertension will double from 118 million to 213 million by 2025.

With so many people having high BP, the use of anti-hypertensive drugs is also on the rise. But most people who are prescribed hypertension drugs take them from granted and lack the knowledge of what they actually do and how to use them correctly. In this article, we discuss common queries about anti-hypertensive drugs with inputs from Dr Sanjeev Chaudhary, Associate Director & Unit Head, Cardiology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon.

Is it true that people having high BP have to take anti-hypertensive drugs life long?

'Yes. Anti-hypertensive drugs are needed lifelong because hypertension can only be controlled and not cured. However, this is true only in case of essential hypertension or primary hypertension,' says Dr Sanjeev. Essential hypertension is the most common type of hypertension that is likely to be caused by environmental and genetic factors.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

'Secondary hypertension (incidence only 5 percent), caused by an underlying medical condition or due to some causative factors like renal artery stenosis (narrowing of blood vessels), pheochromocytoma (tumor of adrenal glands) etc., can be possibly cured if the causative factor is removed,' he adds further. Read more about drugs for hypertension

Assuming that anti-hypertensive drugs will control BP, many peopleignore diet and lifestyle changes. What effect can this approach have on health of such individuals?

Lifestyle modifications are beneficial for everyone, not just hypertensive people. And, there is substantial evidence supporting the positive effects of lifestyle modification on BP control. Dr Sanjeev says 'Alternative methods like exercising, diet modification, reducing salt and fat intake and managing stress are non pharmacological measures which should be tried even before taking anti-hypertensive drugs medicines in cases of mild hypertension.' Although anti-hypertensive drugs can effectively control BP, when they're coupled with lifestyle changes, blood pressure can possibly be stabilised in the long run to reduce the risk of further complications. Read more about complication of hypertension.

Can overdose of these medicines cause extremely low BP?

'Yes, overdose can cause low BP', says Dr Sanjeev. That's why, it is essential to adhere to prescribed dosage and take medicines on time. Don't be in a rush to lower your blood pressure by having an additional dose without consulting your doctor. A sudden drop in BP can be dangerous. It can cause dizziness or you might faint if the supply of blood to the brain is insufficient. A steady drop in BP over 2-4 weeks is considered normal. Here's more information on treatment of low blood pressure.

Can anti-hypertensive drugs prevent heart diseases?

'Yes. Because hypertension is a major risk factor for heart diseases, by lowering BP these medications take care of heart diseases too. In fact, if people adhere to medications properly, these drugs can significantly decrease the risk of heart diseases. But, even today most patients take inadequate or irregular dosage and their BP is only partially controlled, which makes them prone to heart diseases.' Read more about advances in drugs for hypertension.

What are the side effects of these drugs?

'There are several type of drugs used for hypertension and side effects are different for each one of them,' says Dr Sanjeev. If you're taking diuretics, frequent urination, weakness, muscle cramps and fatigue can be the common side-effects. Men may have erection problems. People taking beta-blockers may show asthma symptoms or may suffer from sleep disorders and depression. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors may cause skin rash, loss of taste and cough.

References

• Sailesh Mohan, Norm Campbell & Arun Chockalingam. Time to effectively address hypertension in India (Indian Council of Medical Reseach) (http://www.icmr.nic.in/)

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