May 17th is World Hypertension Day. As one of the most common chronic diseases globally, hypertension has long become a significant threat to the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health of the entire population.
In clinical practice, many patients with hypertension have such a misconception: after taking antihypertensive drugs for a period of time and measuring their blood pressure to be normal, they mistakenly believe that their hypertension has been "cured" and there is no need to continue taking medication; some even attempt to discontinue medication on their own and, upon finding stable blood pressure in the short term, entertain the idea of long-term medication discontinuation.
Especially in Hainan, many elderly "migratory birds" who come here for recuperation may mistakenly believe their blood pressure has returned to normal due to the warm climate, and thus easily discontinue their medication.
Dr. Zheng Yin, Vice President of Hainan Chengmei Hospital and a cardiovascular expert, urgently reminds everyone: normal blood pressure does not mean that hypertension has been cured! Stopping medication without authorization, especially for "migratory bird" elderly, can lead to cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction!
Why can't medication be stopped casually in Hainan?
Hainan is warm and humid, so blood vessels will naturally expand. Coupled with the fact that many elderly "migratory birds" from the north have increased physical activity and a lighter diet after coming to Hainan, their blood pressure may indeed be lower than when they were back home. However, this does not mean that hypertension has been "cured", but rather that the environment has helped you to "temporarily lower your blood pressure".
If medication is stopped without authorization at this time, in case of the following situations, blood pressure may rapidly rebound and even become higher than before:
Weather change: Typhoon and cold air moving south, temperature drops sharply, causing blood vessels to contract.
Returning to the north: From Hainan to my hometown, the temperature difference is tens of degrees, causing my blood pressure to skyrocket instantly.
Emotional fluctuations: excitement or fatigue from activities such as traveling, shopping, and family gatherings.
Forgetting to monitor: relying solely on the feeling of "I'm fine", only to find out later that blood pressure has quietly risen.
In addition, local residents in Hainan prefer a diet high in salt and often consume pickled seafood products. Meanwhile, contemporary individuals generally exhibit unhealthy habits such as staying up late, sitting for long periods, experiencing high mental stress, and indulging excessively in smoking and alcohol consumption. The combination of multiple risk factors not only increases the risk for elderly migrant populations but also shows a noticeable trend of hypertension affecting younger adults.
What is even more alarming is that asymptomatic hypertension is extremely insidious, silently eroding blood vessels for a long time. By the time obvious discomfort appears, irreversible damage has often been caused.
⚠️ Warning: Real-life case
Last winter, Aunt Zhang, a 65-year-old migrant from Heilongjiang to Sanya for the winter, noticed that her blood pressure had been around 120/70 for a week. She then stopped taking her antihypertensive medication. However, on the third day after returning to Harbin, she suddenly experienced severe headaches and was taken to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. The doctor explained that the "rebound of blood pressure" caused by abrupt discontinuation of medication was the direct trigger.
Professor Zheng Yin stated that in outpatient clinics, she often encounters typical situations where hypertensive patients do not follow medical advice and manage their condition on their own: they do not undergo professional examinations, but instead rely solely on online popular science articles to self-diagnose and judge their condition; they do not monitor their blood pressure on a daily basis, but instead arbitrarily discontinue or reduce medication based solely on their physical sensations; they take medication haphazardly and without any regularity, leading to fluctuations in blood pressure and extreme instability. It is precisely this extensive self-management that can easily cause blood pressure to suddenly spike out of control, triggering various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular emergencies.
Expert interpretation: Why can't we "stop taking medication without authorization"?
1. Normal blood pressure indicates that the medication is working
Just like wearing glasses improves vision, it doesn't mean that myopia is cured. Antihypertensive drugs maintain stable blood pressure, but once the medication is stopped and the effect wears off, blood pressure immediately rises again.
2. Seasonal fluctuations of "migratory birds" are more dangerous
In Hainan, where it is warm in winter, blood pressure naturally tends to be lower; however, during the sultry summer or cold northern weather, blood pressure naturally rises. This fluctuation, coupled with unauthorized discontinuation of medication, can easily trigger stroke, aortic dissection, and acute myocardial infarction. Repeated fluctuations in blood pressure can violently impact the inner walls of blood vessels, accelerating the process of arteriosclerosis and causing dual damage to blood vessels.
3. Hypertension is a lifelong disease
Currently, except for a very small number of patients with early mild hypertension who can achieve reversal through lifestyle changes, the vast majority of patients require long-term or even lifelong medication.
Three common misconceptions about hypertension that many people keep making
Misconception 1: Copying online popular science and blindly purchasing antihypertensive drugs online
Many people treat online science popularization content as diagnostic and treatment standards, directly copying others' prescriptions and self-medicating. Experts emphasize that there is no universal "magic pill" for hypertension. Medication must be customized according to individual vascular conditions, underlying medical history, and physical tolerance. Blindly following the trend in medication not only fails to achieve blood pressure control but also increases the burden on liver and kidney metabolism and damages organ function.
Misconception 2: Discontinuing medication without authorization when feeling better
"Stopping medication when feeling comfortable and resuming it when feeling unwell" is the most dangerous behavior in blood pressure control. Randomly stopping or discontinuing medication can cause severe fluctuations in blood pressure, which can easily lead to fatal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications such as cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, and aortic dissection, with disastrous consequences.
Misconception 3: If you don't feel unwell, there's no need to manage your blood pressure
Many people mistakenly believe that if they don't feel any pain or discomfort in their body, it means their blood pressure is normal. In fact, asymptomatic hypertension is more insidious and dangerous. Prolonged high blood pressure can continuously damage target organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. By the time obvious symptoms appear, most often organic lesions have already occurred, missing the best opportunity for intervention.
This is how you should treat hypertension
I. Standardize medical management and control, and refuse self-diagnosis and self-treatment
When adjusting medication, it is essential to consult a doctor: If your blood pressure remains persistently low (such as below 110/70) or you experience dizziness or fatigue, you should bring your blood pressure record book to a community hospital or specialist outpatient clinic. The doctor will then reduce the dosage or prescribe a different medication for you, rather than simply discontinuing the medication.
Before leaving Hainan, take the initiative to make a follow-up appointment: For elderly "migratory birds" preparing to return north, it is recommended to make a follow-up appointment with the cardiovascular department 1-2 weeks in advance. The doctor will adjust the treatment plan based on your condition to prevent "blood pressure spikes due to temperature differences between the north and the south".
Adhere to home blood pressure self-monitoring: It is recommended to use a certified upper arm electronic blood pressure monitor, measure 1-2 times each morning and evening, and record the readings. This serves as the most crucial basis for doctors to adjust medication.
Regular physical examination and screening: Young adults should also attach importance to annual health check-ups, actively screen for blood pressure and blood lipids, and seek early detection and intervention.
II. Adjust lifestyle and abandon bad habits
Low salt: Eat less dried fish, shrimp paste, and pickled vegetables, and strictly control daily salt intake;
Low-fat: Coconut chicken and seafood are good, but drink less thick soup and reduce heavy oil and greasy food;
Regular exercise: take a walk or practice Tai Chi in the morning or evening, avoid exercising in direct sunlight at noon, and refrain from prolonged sitting;
Lifestyle and Emotions: Avoid staying up late for extended periods, learn to relieve stress, stabilize emotions, and prevent sudden spikes in blood pressure caused by extreme emotional fluctuations;
Limit alcohol and quit smoking: Local "dad tea" is allowed, but try to control the consumption of Baijiu and beer, and strictly refrain from smoking.
Professor Zheng Yin emphasizes that hypertension is no longer a disease exclusive to the elderly; middle-aged and young adults are also at high risk. Regardless of age, it is essential to abandon incorrect notions about blood pressure control, take high-risk cases as a warning, avoid blind self-diagnosis and self-treatment, adhere to scientific blood pressure management, cultivate a healthy lifestyle, and comprehensively safeguard one's cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health
Expert Introduction
Zheng Yin, Chief Physician
Vice President, Professor
Master's supervisor, scholar studying in the United States
Outstanding Experts with Outstanding Contributions in Hainan Province
Medical expertise
Specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and health management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases as well as geriatric diseases. Provides cardiac rehabilitation for patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, metabolic syndrome, post-stent implantation, and post-bypass surgery, including guidance on medication, exercise, nutrition, and sleep disorders.