Hypertension - the importance of treatment adherence

Taking your blood pressure medication exactly as prescribed is the key to a long, rich life, full of all that really matters to you.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, you’ll likely need to take blood pressure medication on an ongoing basis. It may take a while to adjust to this idea, especially if you haven’t had to take medication regularly before. In purely practical terms, it can be helpful to set up a reminder to get into the habit: fill a weekly pill box organiser, or use a cellphone app to keep track of your medications.

But the challenge isn’t just practical: It’s not uncommon for people taking medication for a chronic condition to sometimes feel frustrated and skip taking their pills - or even stop taking them altogether.

Don’t make this mistake.

A wealth of medical evidence shows that treatment adherence - taking your pills, in other words - is absolutely fundamental to getting and staying better.

Treatment adherence also means taking your hypertension medication exactly as your doctor recommends. If you skip a dose, it won’t work as well as it should. In fact, one of the most common reasons for uncontrolled high blood pressure is that people don’t take their medications correctly.

A simple equation: Lower blood pressure = better health, lower risk of complications

Even reducing your blood pressure by a small amount can help lower the risk of developing the complications that may result from uncontrolled hypertension:

Heart disease
Heart attacks
Strokes
Heart failure
Kidney disease

If you find yourself feeling down or frustrated about having hypertension, and reluctant to take your medication, try these tips:

Talk to someone who has your best interests at heart - your doctor, a therapist, a family member, a friend.
Remind yourself of the negatives of poorly managed hypertension, namely the serious health complications listed above. But even more importantly, remind yourself of the positives of managing your hypertension well, and…
Make a list of everything most important for which you need your health. This could be watching kids and grandkids grow up, playing sports, working on pet projects, socialising. Expand the equation:

Lower blood pressure = better health, lower risk of complications = living the life you want

Sticking to your medication plan and following a healthy lifestyle means not merely surviving with your condition, but thriving. It’s up to you to take control to ensure that you remain active and independent, able to continue to do what brings you joy, well into old age.

Written and Managed by Medinformer

Medical References

Unger T, et al. 2020 International Society of Hypertension global hypertension practice guidelines. J Hypertens 2020. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32370572/

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa. Blood pressure. 2021.

Link: https://www.heartfoundation.co.za/blood-pressure/

August 3, 2022 | Categories: Health Conditions A-Z, Cardiovascular Health

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