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Is There Any Adverse Effects Of BP Medications And How Long To Take?
My son is suffering from BP since last 6 years when he was 18 years of age which he came to know when he was learing how to measure BP in his first yr.course of BPT at his college. At that time his BP was measured 160/100. He immediately rushed to AIIMS at their Emergency OPD. Dr. gave him injection and medicine to low his BP and all medical tests were done there. There was no adverse report. Since them he is taking the following medicines as prescribed by the Dr.there. (a) Envas 5 mg (Now 10 mg) and (b) Amlong (5 Mg). His average BP at present comes 185/85. My question is whether he may forgive or reduce his medicines or whole life he has to depend on medicines. Is there any side effect of the BP medicines on health. Pl. explain.
Mon, 22 Jun 2020
Hi,
Brief answer: Very elevated blood pressures will generally require long term management with blood pressure medications. The risks of stroke heart attack, and kidney failure from untreated high blood pressure greatly outweighs the risks from taking the blood pressure medication.
Detailed answer: Blood pressure measures the force at which blood pushes on the wall of the blood vessels. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a very common common condition. High blood pressure puts stress on the heart and can cause the heart to fail and cause heart attacks. High blood pressure in the brain can lead to a stroke or cause bleeding in the brain. High blood pressure can also damage the kidney. To reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure, high blood pressure needs to be treated. Treatment of high blood pressure includes lifestyle changes like eating a well-balanced heart healthy diet, exercising regularly, stress reduction, losing weight if overweight, drinking alcohol in moderation, and not smoking as well as pharmacologic therapy with blood pressure medications.
Very high blood pressure (or Stage 2 hypertension), like your son's, can require two or more (sometimes up to four) blood pressure medications to get under control. There are single pills that actually contain a combination of blood pressure medications, so that would make taking medication a bit easier for your son. All medications have side effects and risks. Blood pressure medications can cause the blood pressure to become to low and cause lightheadedness, dizziness, and nausea. Some medications can cause imbalance of electrolytes like sodium and potassium. However, these risk from taking medications are far outweighed by both the benefit of treating high blood pressure on overall health in the long-term as well as by the risk of not treating high blood pressure. Appropriately treating high blood pressure has been shown to greatly reduce risk of heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and death.
I would encourage you and your son talk to his doctor about his blood pressure medications and options to reduce the number of pills that he is prescribed.
Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Shapiro, MD
Brief answer: Very elevated blood pressures will generally require long term management with blood pressure medications. The risks of stroke heart attack, and kidney failure from untreated high blood pressure greatly outweighs the risks from taking the blood pressure medication.
Detailed answer: Blood pressure measures the force at which blood pushes on the wall of the blood vessels. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a very common common condition. High blood pressure puts stress on the heart and can cause the heart to fail and cause heart attacks. High blood pressure in the brain can lead to a stroke or cause bleeding in the brain. High blood pressure can also damage the kidney. To reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure, high blood pressure needs to be treated. Treatment of high blood pressure includes lifestyle changes like eating a well-balanced heart healthy diet, exercising regularly, stress reduction, losing weight if overweight, drinking alcohol in moderation, and not smoking as well as pharmacologic therapy with blood pressure medications.
Very high blood pressure (or Stage 2 hypertension), like your son's, can require two or more (sometimes up to four) blood pressure medications to get under control. There are single pills that actually contain a combination of blood pressure medications, so that would make taking medication a bit easier for your son. All medications have side effects and risks. Blood pressure medications can cause the blood pressure to become to low and cause lightheadedness, dizziness, and nausea. Some medications can cause imbalance of electrolytes like sodium and potassium. However, these risk from taking medications are far outweighed by both the benefit of treating high blood pressure on overall health in the long-term as well as by the risk of not treating high blood pressure. Appropriately treating high blood pressure has been shown to greatly reduce risk of heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and death.
I would encourage you and your son talk to his doctor about his blood pressure medications and options to reduce the number of pills that he is prescribed.
Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Shapiro, MD
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