Hypertension: Importance of Treatment Adherence

High blood pressure or hypertension is a common condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough over time that it may eventually cause health problems. A person can have hypertension for many years without any symptoms, silently damaging blood vessels and vital organs.

Complications of uncontrolled hypertension include:

• heart attack
• stroke
• heart failure
• kidney damage
• aneurysm (weakening and bulging of blood vessels)
• damaged blood vessels in the eyes
• metabolic syndrome
• trouble with memory or understanding

This is why taking your medicines as prescribed—also known as treatment adherence—is very important. Taking anti-hypertension medications as instructed by your doctor promotes optimal blood pressure control and lowers the risk of hypertension complications.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers the following treatment adherence tips:

• Take your medication at the same time every day.
• Tie taking your medications with a daily routine like brushing your teeth or getting ready for bed.
• Use a pill container. Some types have sections for multiple doses at different times, such as morning, lunch, evening, and night.
• Refill your pill container at the same time each week. For example, every Sunday morning after breakfast.

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References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410. Accessed 22 April 2020

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/why-you-need-take-your-medications-prescribed-or-instructed. Accessed 22 April 2020