At present, hypertension is listed as one of the biggest threats to human beings. According to statistics, there are more than 1 billion people suffering from hypertension worldwide. Today, we will take you through a few misconceptions about medication for hypertensive patients.

Using medication based on feelings

High blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer, not felt or estimated, and the absence of discomfort does not mean that blood pressure is not high. People with hypertension have no symptoms. Some people have significantly higher blood pressure, but because they have had the disease for a long time, they have adapted to the high blood pressure level and still do not feel discomfort until they have a brain haemorrhage, and then they have symptoms.

Reluctance to take medication prematurely

Many patients in their 40s and 50s who are diagnosed with hypertension are reluctant to take their medication, fearing that antihypertensive drugs will become "resistant" and that using them too early will make them ineffective later. This is a misconception and a dangerous one.

1. Antihypertensive drugs are not antibiotics and antihypertensive drugs are not drug-resistant.

2. Increased blood pressure can unknowingly damage large, medium and small blood vessels throughout the body and damage the heart, brain and kidneys. For every 10 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure (high pressure), the risk of stroke and fatal myocardial infarction increases by 53% and 31% respectively.　
　
The earlier blood pressure is controlled, the sooner blood vessels can be protected against heart, brain and kidney damage, and the better the long-term prognosis. For most patients, drug therapy should be initiated when blood pressure is ≥140/90 mmHg on the basis of lifestyle improvement (1 to 3 months).

Antihypertensive drugs hurt the kidneys

It is high blood pressure that hurts the kidneys, not antihypertensive drugs.

1. All antihypertensive drugs have side effects, but the side effects of antihypertensive drugs are less than the damage caused by high blood pressure to the body.
　　
2. Any antihypertensive drug may not be tolerated by individual patients. The adverse reactions listed in the drug instructions only account for 1% to 5%, and do not occur in every patient after using the drug.　　

2. Pulisic antihypertensive drugs and satanic antihypertensive drugs not only have antihypertensive effects, but also can reduce proteinuria and delay the decline of renal function, and are the preferred antihypertensive drugs for patients with hypertension and diabetes.　
　
4. The diphenhydramine class also has renal protection, relying mainly on its antihypertensive effect.

The faster you lower your blood pressure, the better

Some patients require rapid control of blood pressure and start complaining about the unsatisfactory effect of the medication after only a few days of using it and the blood pressure does not drop significantly, asking the doctor to increase the medication or change it frequently is wrong. A rapid drop in blood pressure can cause ischaemic events due to inadequate perfusion of the heart, brain, kidneys and other vital organs.
　
The average patient should be treated for 4 to 12 weeks to achieve the blood pressure target. The time to achieve the target should be extended for elderly patients, patients with severe coronary artery or bilateral carotid artery stenosis and those with poor tolerance. The vast majority of long-acting antihypertensive drugs take about 1 to 2 weeks to achieve a stable blood pressure reduction.

Treatment of hypertension by infusion

1. Long-term adherence to regular oral antihypertensive medication and a combination of interventions for other risk factors (lowering sugar, lowering lipids, taking small doses of aspirin, etc. if necessary) is the best treatment.　

2. Some patients believe that infusion can activate blood circulation, improve circulation and prevent blood clots. In fact, the usual infusion has no effect on the prevention of blood clots.　

3. Except for hypertensive emergencies such as hypertensive encephalopathy and aortic coarctation, which require intravenous drips of antihypertensive drugs to lower blood pressure quickly, general hypertension does not require infusion therapy.

Stop taking your medication when your blood pressure is normal

Adherence to medication is the path to longevity for people with hypertension. Unlike a cold or flu, hypertension cannot heal itself or be cured, it can only be controlled. People with hypertension need to take antihypertensive medication for a long time, or even for life. If you stop taking your medication without permission, your blood pressure will rise again and fluctuate too much, causing more serious damage to your heart, brain and kidney target organs.