Q: Can You Get Addicted to Blood Pressure Medication?
Q: Does normal blood pressure mean no need to take medicine?
In outpatient clinics, patients often raise similar questions. Professor Zheng Yin, an expert in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Hainan and the vice president of Hainan Chengmei Hospital, stated that these are all common misunderstandings about medication. Antihypertensive drugs do not have addictive properties. The reason why patients need to take them for a long time is that hypertension cannot be cured at present and can only be controlled by medication. Once the medication is stopped, blood pressure will rebound rapidly, causing irreversible damage to important organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.
Apart from these two major misunderstandings, there are also some cognitive biases among hypertensive patients during the medication process. Today, we have specially invited Professor Zheng Yin to correct some common misunderstandings about taking antihypertensive drugs for everyone, to help hypertensive patients manage their blood pressure scientifically.
Antihypertensive drugs are not addictive.
Many patients are worried that antihypertensive drugs may cause addiction. Professor Zheng Yin clearly stated that this perception is completely wrong. The function of antihypertensive drugs is to regulate abnormal blood pressure and they do not contain addictive substances.
Patients are worried that antihypertensive drugs are addictive because patients with hypertension need to take medication for a long time to keep their blood pressure stable. Patients may mistake this "long-term medication requirement" for a "dependence" caused by the drugs, thinking that once they stop taking the drugs, their blood pressure will rebound, which is the bodys dependence on the drugs. In fact, this is the characteristic of the disease itself (hypertension is difficult to cure and needs to be continuously controlled), rather than drug addiction.
In fact, antihypertensive drugs are used to control blood pressure and have no addictive properties. Long-term use is aimed at preventing the damage that hypertension can cause to organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. Patients should not refuse or stop taking the medication on their own due to concerns about "dependence".
Blood pressure reduction treatment needs to be continuous.
"Stopping medication when blood pressure is normal" is also a common misconception. Professor Zheng Yin emphasizes that normal blood pressure is the result of the continuous effect of the medication. Hypertension is a chronic disease that cannot be cured at present. After stopping the medication, blood pressure is prone to rebound and may even be higher than before taking the medication, seriously damaging the heart, brain, kidneys and other organs. Clinical data shows that the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients who stop medication at will is 3 to 5 times higher than that of those who adhere to medication. The correct approach is to stabilize blood pressure and then, under the guidance of a doctor, carefully adjust the dosage. One should not stop medication on their own.
Moreover, the idea that "no symptoms mean no need for medication" is also very dangerous. Hypertension is known as the "silent killer". In the early stage, it may not cause any discomfort, but continuous high blood pressure will quietly damage blood vessels and organs. By the time symptoms such as chest tightness, headache, and dizziness occur, important target organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes are often already damaged, increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (such as coronary heart disease and stroke) and renal failure. Whether there are symptoms or not, once hypertension is diagnosed, active treatment should be carried out.
Some patients believe that "the faster the blood pressure drops, the better." Professor Zheng Yin points out that the human bodys organs have an adaptive range for blood pressure. For patients with long-term hypertension, their blood vessels have adapted to a higher blood pressure level. If the blood pressure drops too quickly and too low, the body cannot adapt to the sudden drop in blood pressure rapidly, which may lead to insufficient blood supply to important organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys, causing symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and blackouts. In severe cases, it may even lead to serious consequences such as ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. Reasonable blood pressure reduction should be steady and gradual, and it is advisable to reach the target value within 4 to 12 weeks.
Standardized medication is at the core of treatment.
There are many patients who are reluctant to take antihypertensive drugs due to concerns about their side effects. Professor Zheng Yin explains that any drug may have side effects, but modern antihypertensive drugs have fully considered safety and effectiveness. Compared with the serious harm of hypertension, the probability of side effects is low and most are mild and controllable. If one refuses to take the medicine out of fear of side effects and allows blood pressure to rise, it will lead to serious consequences such as thickening and enlargement of the heart, rupture or blockage of blood vessels in the brain, and kidney failure. Standardized medication is the key to reducing risks.
Hypertension-regulating health supplements and dietary therapies are highly sought after in the market. Professor Zheng Yin clearly stated that health supplements can only assist in regulating body functions and cannot replace medication for precise blood pressure control. After being diagnosed with hypertension, one should take medication under the guidance of a doctor and combine it with a healthy lifestyle to effectively control blood pressure.
Professor Zheng Yin reminds us that hypertension is preventable and controllable. Standardized treatment is the key. We should abandon misconceptions, establish a correct medication concept, actively cooperate with treatment, regularly monitor blood pressure, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and stay away from the threat of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Expert Introduction
Zheng Yin
Vice President, Chief Physician, Professor
Vice President, Masters Degree, Chief Physician
Professor, Masters Supervisor
Scholar studying in the United States, Leading Talent of Hainan Province
Outstanding Experts with Distinguished Contributions in Hainan Province
Medical expertise
Proficient in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and health management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and geriatric diseases. Specialized in cardiac rehabilitation for patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, metabolic syndrome, after stent implantation and bypass surgery, including guidance on medication, exercise, nutrition and sleep disorders.
Article | Huang Fei