As there is no cure for hypertension the goal of treatment is to control the pressure level. Doing this requires continuous treatment, through maintained lifestyle changes like regular
exercise, and sometimes regular
medication. This same approach is used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
As hypertension and cardiovascular disease usually develop
without symptoms it can be easy for patients to forget to take their treatment or stop taking it altogether. However, inadequate treatment will result in uncontrolled blood pressure and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This can lead to complications described before, such as heart disease, kidney failure and stroke.
There are steps you can take to help keep taking your treatment in the correct manner:
- Try and integrate your medication into your routine so it becomes part of your daily life, for example by taking it at the same time(s) everyday.
- Set reminders on your alarm, phone or computer to jog your memory.
- Ask your doctor about how the medications you are taking function, at what time of day they should be taken and with or without food. This affects how well the treatment works and will help you get the most out of your medication.
- Patients often stop treatment due to side effects. Ask your doctor what are the potential side effects of your medication so you are prepared. If you do experience side effects let your doctor know, as he/she may be able to easily manage them.
Over time high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease can lead to fatal
complications. However there are a variety of ways in which these conditions can be controlled, from lifestyle changes such as a change of diet, to a plethora of medications proven to effectively lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Committing to lifestyle change and faithfully taking medication can help you control high blood pressure, reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and avoid potentially life-threatening diseases. The
next section contains some useful resources for learning more about high blood pressure and how it affects you.
