Hypertension: Effective Self-Management
All content is checked by medical journalists.MunichHigh blood pressure patients who set their blood pressure independently drive better: Their values are lower than those of patients who are traditionally looked after by a doctor. This is especially true for high-risk patients, shows a study.
The approximately 270 participants were on average 70 years old and, in addition to high blood pressure, also suffered from diabetes, coronary heart disease, kidney failure or had already suffered a stroke.
Masses twice a day
They should measure their blood pressure twice a day for the first week of each month over a period of one year. The aim was to adjust the medication according to a step-by-step plan so that the blood pressure was lowered to the target value of 120/75 mmHg as far as possible. If the values are very high, over 180/100 mmHg, participants should consult a doctor.
For the control group of the same size, whose blood pressure was monitored by the doctor, the target value was slightly higher at 130/80 mmHg. In fact, the doctor's measurement causes stress in many people and thus increases blood pressure.
Significantly better values
After only six months, the participants who adjusted their blood pressure in self-management had set it better than the control group. After a year, the gap had widened even further: on average, their blood pressure was 9.2 mmHg (upper, systolic value) or 3.4 mmHg (lower, diastolic value) lower than in patients whose blood pressure was being monitored by a doctor .
According to the researchers, the risk of suffering a stroke in the self-managed group was 30 percent lower than in the purely medical-care group.
Silent killer
High blood pressure is one of the widespread diseases. It is estimated that 50 percent of Europeans are affected. The overpressure in the vessels is a silent killer. Over the years it damages the bloodstream and increases the risk of arteriosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. But rarely are the values so high that they physically affect the patient. Adjusting the blood pressure values well therefore demands some discipline from the patient with regard to control and medication intake. (cf)
Source: Richard J. McManus et al .: Effect of Self-monitoring and Medication Self-titration on Systolic Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients at High Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. JAMA, August 2014.
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