Blood Pressure Is Normal, Do You Need To Take Hypertension Drugs?

JAKARTA - Many people who have been taking hypertension drugs for a long time often wonder, 'If tension is normal, does you still need to take medication every day?'.

This question is natural, especially if you have tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating regularly, exercising, and maintaining weight.

According to dr. Shaline Rao, a cardiologist from NYU Langone Hospital, United States, the answer cannot be generalized.

For some people, the risk of high blood pressure is genetic or permanent so that drugs need to be taken for life. But there are also those who can reduce doses, even stop completely, if their lifestyle is really maintained," he explained, quoted from the Health Central page.

In the past, high blood drug was considered to have to be taken forever. But recent research shows not everyone is obliged to do so. According to a guide published by researchers in Taiwan in 2022, a person can be considered to stop taking medication if he meets the following criteria:

- Only using one type of antihypertension drug

- Age is still under 50 years

- No organ damage, such as a kidney or heart

- Prior to treatment, only experienced hypertension phase 1 (130139/8089 mmHg)

- Consistently living a healthy lifestyle

- Hypertension trigger diseases, such as thyroid disorders or Cushing syndrome, have been resolved.

In other words, a lifestyle remains the main key.

"Drugs can be stopped if blood pressure is stable for years and a healthy lifestyle is properly maintained," said dr. Rao.

Even though tension is normal, some people still have to take medication because of the irreversible risk factors, such as:

- Age over 55 years

- Family history with hypertension or heart disease

- Black skin because it has higher sensitivity to salt

- Has another disease that exacerbates hypertension

There are patients who have eaten healthy and are diligent in sports, but because of genetic or age factors, they still need long-term medicine, "explained dr. Rao.

If a doctor thinks you can try taking off drugs, the process should not be sudden. The safest way is to reduce the dose gradually. For example, doses are reduced by 25% every few weeks while monitoring daily tension.

"The best step is to develop a strategy with doctors, for example by recording blood pressure at home and reporting it regularly. If blood pressure remains stable, the dose can slowly be reduced," said dr. Rao.

However, if after stopping the blood pressure drug rises again, for example, twice the measurement in two weeks shows high results, drugs need to be taken again.

Every now and then forgetting to take medication is usually not a problem. But if you do it often, the effect can be dangerous.

"Drugs that are drunk irregularly are the same as the less dose, so the risk of complications such as heart attacks and stroke increases," said dr. Rao.

The rules immediately take the medicine so remember. However, if it is close to the schedule for the next dose, just continue according to the usual schedule.

Not everyone whose tension is normal can immediately stop taking hypertension drugs. This decision is highly dependent on age, medical history, genetic factors, and discipline in living a healthy lifestyle. The key is never to stop alone without medical directions.

"The most important thing is open communication with doctors and regular blood pressure monitoring. That way, the decision to stop or continue the drug can be completely safe." closed dr. Rao.