Are high blood pressure meds? Read on and find out more!
So you went to the doctor and found out you have high blood pressure. At first, you’ve tried the natural method, reduced salts from your diet, and also exercised more. Great job!
Unfortunately, this didn’t work as you expected it. Yes, your blood pressure is lower than it used to be, but the readings are still too high. Now what?
Well, there was not much to do. Your doctor prescribed you high blood pressure meds. This is the only way. The readings are great now, but you are feeling a little bit drowsy. This is uncomfortable, but you are not alone. Many high blood pressure meds are known to cause various side effects, and you are one of the many people affected by this.
Older people are the ones who are the most affected by the side effects of high blood pressure meds and this is one of the main reasons they stop taking them. Generally, they complain that they feel fatigued or lightheaded.
There are many people who choose to take the meds only when they feel their blood pressure is out of control. For example, when they gave headaches. But this is dangerous, and you should take your meds the way your doctor prescribed you to do.
Read on and find out about high blood pressure meds and also about their lesser-known side effects!
What is normal blood pressure?
The pressure of your blood is measured by millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). You are in the normal range when your blood pressure is no lower than 120/80 but not higher than 120-129/less than 80. When it’s higher than 130/80, it’s considered hypertension, and you will need medication.
The top numbers are systolic pressure, and the bottom ones are diastolic pressure. Both numbers are important, but for seniors, the systolic one is much more important when doctors are determining the patient’s prognosis.
Even if older people are also the ones who get the most side effects from high blood pressure medications, they are also the ones who benefit the most from them. A better control of blood pressure means fewer strokes and heart attacks.
Are high blood pressure meds safe and effective?
According to a study published by the journal Circulation, a steady systolic blood pressure below 130 mm Hg in relatively healthy women who are 65 or older is associated with longevity. Many of them even survived to the age of 90!
One thing we should be careful about is frailty. Older adults who suffer from conditions that cause frailty need adjusted doses of high blood pressure meds since they are prone to various accidents like falling and tripping.
A big study on hypertension that appeared in Circulation examined 9,306 elderly people and discovered that 26.7% of them had frailty. But even those with frailty had the same benefits from thorough blood pressure management just as much as other patients, with no increased risk of significant side events.
Are there any obstacles related to the treatment of high blood pressure?
Well, when we are getting older, the way our bodies react to medication and metabolize it changes. This means the way it gets absorbed and is later eliminated will be different compared to younger patients. Some drugs might stay in your system for longer, and when this happens, there is a higher risk of side effects.
Most of the time, seniors need to take more medications at the same time, and this can lead to even more side effects. Even more, many of them already struggle with problems like bad balance, fatigue, or feeling dizzy, and side effects from medication can make them worse.
High blood pressure meds are some of this side effect-causing medications, and this is why it is so important to talk to your doctor and make sure to get the most suitable medications for you and reduce the side effects as much as possible.
Let’s see what some of the side effects of high blood pressure meds are and find out how to manage them.
Fatigue
It is not unusual for those who are taking high blood pressure meds to experience feelings of tiredness. This effect is mostly caused by beta-blockers, alpha-adrenergic blockers, and centrally-acting alpha-adrenergic receptor agonists. But there are also meds that don’t contain these compounds and still cause fatigue.
These classes of medication work in special ways, and this is why they have this effect. For example, beta-blockers slow down your heart rate. Then we have alpha-adrenergic medications that influence the central nervous system, particularly the sympathetic (“flight or fight”) system, which is responsible for keeping us awake.
Sometimes simply the lowering of blood pressure will cause fatigue, but once you get adjusted, this will become your new normal.
Lightheadedness
Have you ever become lightheaded while standing up? This is a common occurrence, and it happens because your blood pools in the lower body while you are sitting, and when you abruptly stand up, it takes some time to go back to the heart and be pumped up again.
Most of the time, our bodies adjust to this change pretty fast, generally by increasing blood pressure, and we are not affected at all. But aging combined with the use of high blood pressure medications can alter how our bodies react to this and something called orthostatic hypotension. The main symptom of this is lightheadedness.
How to check for orthostatic hypotension. While you are sitting, measure your blood pressure. Then recheck it after standing. Did your blood pressure drop 10 points diastolic and 20 points or more systolic? If yes, this is a sign you have orthostatic hypotension, and you should talk to your doctor about changing your medication.
Ankle swelling
This is also known as peripheral edema and is a common side effect of calcium channel blockers (CCBs), which are used as high blood pressure meds. This medication works by relaxing the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily, and reducing the work your heart has to do to keep things stable.
However, this ability to dilate the blood vessels is what causes ankle swelling. When peripheral blood vessels dilate, it leads to increased pressure in the capillaries, which causes fluid to leak out into the surrounding tissues.
Dose reduction of CCBs is effective in most cases and should solve the problem. If this is not working, the doctor will probably change your medication.
Coughing
ACE inhibitors are commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure, and they help blood vessels to relax, and as a result, blood circulates more easily.
Coughing is caused by the accumulation of bradykinin and substance P. Both of them are chemicals that normally get broken down by the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).
But when you are taking ACE inhibitors, this enzyme is blocked, and as a result, you might start to notice a persistent, dry, tickly cough. Also, the cough tends to start a few weeks after you start the ACE treatment. Sometimes even after months of use.
Keep in mind that this cough is not something harmful, and it will go away once the treatment is changed.
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You should also read: 7 Stress-Causing Foods You Should Avoid at All Costs
