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Hypertension medicines
The whole imposing edifice of modern medicine, for all it s breathtaking success, is like the celebrated Tower of Pisa, slightly off balance.
- Prince Charles
Since it is an acknowledged fact that hypertension is on the rise, more and more concerted research is being conducted to manage hypertension is the best possible way. As a result, every second month, a new chemical or a new combination is introduced into the already overcrowded anti-hypertensive drug basket. Some of these new drugs are of great benefit, while yet others have failed to help or have gone into disrepute because of their distressing side effects.
The aim of medication a few years ago was to achieve a blood pressure reading of less than 130/85, though nowadays this is no longer necessary. It is now advocated that blood pressure should be maintained in the range of 110-120 / 70-80, especially in certain high-risk groups such as diabetics.
Though I am a strict follower of the fact that education of the patient about the disease and its prevention is often of great use, however, a little knowledge of medicines can be a very dangerous thing, more so in the Indian scenario where every person loves to be a medical advisor. Despite this reservation, a broad spectrum of information about the various groups of medicines and how these work might help to treat hypertension in a better way. Believe me, however much you know about these things, your physician knows best. This brings back the memory of a strange incident where a little information and some Web-searching led to an unwelcome situation.
I had this young girl-patient of 19-20 years complaining of some sores on the upper lip. She had been resisting a visit to my clinic for the last many hears, accompanied as she invariably would be by her domineering mother. I diagnosed her condition as Herpes labialis (viral infection of the lip and nose area). Somehow, she heard only the first half of the term Herpes. Being a computer – but, she went home and started searching on her Web for more information on the disease. As luck would have it, she opened the Herpes genitalis page. She came back to me in a highly agitated state, “Doctor – uncle, herpes is caused by sexual contact. What do you think that I have been going around and doing?” she began sobbing and for a moment I did not know what had hit me. As the details emerged, I could not help laughing aloud. I explained to her that I was referring to Herpes labialis and not Herpes genitalis. That is why I say that your physician knows best. So educating the patient is good but one needs to be very careful in this respect. One misplaced word can cause plenty of problems
The commonly used groups of medicines for control of hypertension are :
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Diuretics (which make you rush frequently to the
loo)
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Beta blockers
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Calcium channel blockers
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ACE inhibitors
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Angiotensin II receptor blockers
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Less often used
groups
- vasodilators
- centrally-acting anti-hypertensives
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Alpha blockers.
These medicines can be started individually or as a cocktail depending upon the patient’s age, stage of hypertension and associated problems like asthma, diabetes, etc.,
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