Hypertension, the Worst Problem!

Being a doctor I understand how people are facing health problems that could be either genetically or due to their life styles. There are many diseases and disorders that world is facing today.

One day, one of my regular patients named Ema Jenner came to me for her regular follow-up with a complaint. She said, “Doctor I am feeling very uncomfortable these days with headache and drowsiness”. When I checked her blood pressure, it was 170/90 mm Hg, where as the normal blood pressure range should be 120/80 mm Hg.

Majority of cases are of hypertension all over the world, then I examined her and asked her about diet chart. She said”I have increased my salt intake since so many days”, so I advised her to reduce her salt intake as well as consult a dietician for diet chart.

There are different types of anti-hypertensive drugs which are being used to lower the blood pressure in hypertensives. According to the WHO-ISH guidelines (1999), hypertension is defined to be 140 mm Hg systolic and 90mmHg diastolic, though risk appears to increase even above 120/80mmHg.studies have confirmed that higher the pressure, greater is the risk of cardiovascular disease.

General antihypertensive drugs are classified as:

*ACE inhibitors

*Angiotensin antagonists

*Calcium channel blockers

*Diuretics

*Beta adrenergic blockers

*Alpha-beta adrenergic blockers

*Alpha adrenergic blockers

*Central sympatholytics

*Vasodilators

Treatment of Hypertension:

The above mentioned drugs are used in the treatment of hypertension. This drug therapy is to prevent the morbidity and mortality which is associated with raised blood pressure by lowering it to an acceptable level. Hypertension can lead to organ damage and complications such as:

* Cerebrovascular diseases
* Cardiovascular diseases
* Retinopathy
* Renal failure



“Now you can understand the problems related with hypertension due to diet and genetic factors, Ms Ema”, I said. “Yes Doctor, I have understood. I will take my medicines regularly and on time. I will see you on my next follow-up”. In this way, medical advice and counseling help the patients a lot along with the drug therapy and make the patient satisfied. So, what do you think about Ema’s hypertension? Do you think she will take medicines regularly.