MEDICATION MYTHS IN HYPERTENSION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Hypertension is a significant and growing global health challenge. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 1.3 billion adults worldwide have hypertension or are taking medication for it. Notably, a concerning statistic is that fewer than 1 in 5 adults with hypertension have it under control. Among Indians, studies suggest that around 30% of adults in India have hypertension.

- ■DR. RITU, DR. GAURAV GUPTA, DR. PRANUS KOHLI

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a medical condition characterized by the persistent elevation of blood pressure, or the force exerted by blood against the artery walls as the heart pumps. Often asymptomatic, earning it the moniker "silent killer," hypertension can progress unnoticed for years. While rare, severely elevated blood pressure might manifest as headaches, blurred vision, or nosebleeds.

Various factors can contribute to the development of hypertension, including advancing age, a family history of the condition, and modifiable lifestyle choices such as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, obesity, excessive alcohol intake, and tobacco use.

The significance of identifying and managing hypertension lies in its potential to cause severe health complications if left untreated, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, and vision impairment.

Therefore, regular blood pressure monitoring is essential for timely detection and appropriate management strategies. While lifestyle changes play an important role in the management of hypertension and are recommended for all patients - including weight loss, a healthy diet (like the DASH diet), reduced sodium intake, regular physical activity, and moderation of alcohol - medication plays an important role as well, with most patients requiring the same for preventing long-term complications.

It's interesting how many misconceptions float around about blood pressure medications! Here are a few common antihypertensive-related myths:

Myth-1: Once you start taking blood pressure medication, you'll have to take it for the rest of your life.

Reality: While many people do need long-term medication to manage hypertension effectively, this isn't always the case.