World Hypertension Day 2017 – Treatment of high blood pressure with antibiotics

Dr. Atul Joshi, Physician, Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Sahyadri Hospitals tells us about the latest in treatment of high blood pressure.

By: Mansi Kohli | | Updated: May 24, 2017 7:19 pm

While changing your lifestyle and working on your diet and exercise can really go a long way in treating your high BP problem, one cannot ignore the antibiotics treatment of BP. With 1 in 5 Indian suffering from high BP problem, if you aren’t able to control your blood pressure, then you are most likely to receive a prescription for medication. Dr. Atul Joshi, Physician, Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Sahyadri Hospitals tells us about the latest in treatment of high blood pressure, how you should not form a habit of BP-lowering medication, and why is it not safe to take all the medication together.

High blood pressure can be treated by calcium channel blockers: It helps in reducing blood pressure by widening your blood vessels. It acts by dilatation of blood vessels due to blockage of calcium channels of cell membranes. It’s one of the oldest drugs used for BP control. In certain individuals, it may cause swelling of feet after prolonged use. Hence, it must be taken under strict medical supervision.

How do diuretics function in treating high BP? Diuretics are medications which cause excessive urination. It causes reduction in circulatory volume thereby causing reduction in BP.

Beta-blockers are helpful in case of high blood pressure: Beta blockers are a class of anti-hypertensive medications which block the Beta receptors, cause reduction in pulse rate and bring down BP. Newer varieties of Beta Blockers are cardio selective in nature and don’t act on Beta receptors in the bronchial airways. They help in reducing blood pressure by making your heart beat more slowly and with less force.

To treat my BP fast, can the doctor not just raise one’s medicine dose – how practical is this? Sudden or rapid correction of high BP is not advisable. This is because precipitous drop in BP can lead to strokes especially in elderly. The goal is gradual and sustainable control of BP to optimal levels. Just increase in dose of single class of medications may not work and may need combination of different class of anti-hypertensive.Management of BP needs to be customised for every individual with gradual up-titration of medications and addition of second class of drugs. Here are a few more diet tips for people with hypertension.

Is it safe to take all the BP medicines together? BP medications should be taken in consultation with your treating physician. Most of the anti-hypertensive medications are 24-hour acting drugs and can be taken once a day. But your physician may have spaced them for optimal BP control.

Always aim at keeping the target blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg: There are more and enough number of studies to prove that by keeping blood pressure values below 140/90 the damage to target organs like eyes, kidneys and heart is minimized. The incidences of strokes and heart attacks also are less with better BP control.

Medication is not the only way to control BP: This is because it totally depends on what stage of BP you start treatment. If hypertension is detected in early stage with no changes on ECG and BP values not very high, it can initially be managed with lifestyle modifications- dietary restrictions, regular exercises and weight control.But if initially, BP readings are high only lifestyle modifications will not work and may be risky – here medications would be the best bet. Read about herbal remedies for hypertension

Do I need to take my blood pressure medication for life? If patient has essential hypertension then he may have to take medications lifelong – doses may be reduced after initial control but stopping medications is not advisable. BP is normal with medications and abruptly stopping them may lead to rebound hypertension with complications like Hypertensive Heart Failure.When BP is temporary, like stress induced or during pregnancy then medications can be stopped once the causative factor is eliminated. But this should be done with medical advice only.

Are blood pressure medications harmful and habit-forming?All anti-hypertensive medications are time tested and approved only after it has been proven with substantial data that their benefits outweigh the side effects. The side effects do not occur to each and every individual who takes these medications but are observed in 2-5% of patients.

They are not habit forming but patients have to form a habit of taking them regularly.

The goal of patients should be control of BP and not getting rid of medications.

While on anti-hypertensive medication, patients should avoid excess salt and oily spicy food. Any form of tobacco (cigarette, bidi, Guthka, Mava) is a big NO.

Image source: Shutterstock

Read this in Hindi.

Published: May 16, 2017 5:52 pm | Updated:May 24, 2017 7:19 pm

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