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Healthcare with Heart
Did you recently hear on the news that your previously “normal” blood pressure is now considered “high” and recommended new medical interventions? If so, you may want to hold off until you discuss this with your physician further, says a new report in JAMA Internal Medicine.
According to the University of Sydney and Bond University, getting more aggressive with your treatment could have unintended consequences. By lowering the threshold for drug treatment of adults considered at risk of extreme high blood pressure from 140/80 mmHg to 130/80, patients are at greater risk for medication side effects and feelings of anxiety and depression due to worry about the diagnosis. There’s also the concern that if there’s a switch in health insurance you could suddenly find yourself with a pre-existing condition.
There are other good reasons to not get more aggressive about treatment—the report says that as many as 80 percent of people who get medication receive no increased benefit against cardiovascular disease. How to know if you’re in the other 20 percent? Check with your doctor. Your health history is necessary to determine whether going on medication will be beneficial.
In the meantime, everyone can take proactive steps to improve their blood pressure. Here are a few ideas:
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Dr. Nieca Goldberg and DrNieca.com, all rights reserved.
Site Design by Graphical Solutions LLC