Why Your Blood Pressure: Nearly 220 million Indians suffer from hypertension, often known as high blood pressure, according to the World Health Organization, yet only 12% of them have it under control. You need to do more research when your blood pressure readings don’t go down even after you’ve tried everything—diet, regular exercise, and medication.

However, why can blood pressure readings stay elevated while taking medication? Resistant hypertension is a little-known problem that holds the key to the solution. It is a situation in when three or more antihypertensive drugs, including a diuretic at recommended dosages, are used, yet blood pressure stays over the range of 140/90 mmHg. Numerous underlying conditions, including sleep apnea, hormone imbalances, alcoholism, obesity, and even the usage of certain drugs, might contribute to this illness.

Because they believe they are doing their best, following directions, eating healthily, and exercising frequently—all of which they really do—many patients with resistant hypertension are unaware that they fit into this group. We often meet patients with persistently high blood pressure readings who are on many medicines, but we are unable to determine the underlying causes. For some, it goes beyond just taking another medication. They need a systematic assessment that takes into account both new medical treatments and lifestyle changes. Blood pressure management is a personal matter and cannot be standardized. Dr. Guruprasad S, Head of the Department of Electrophysiology at Gleneagles Hospitals in Chennai, discusses the secret of resistant hypertension with The Daily Jagran.

Crucial Routines for Handling Resistant Hypertension

Adhere to Strict Medication Adherence: Research shows that 50% of individuals with hypertension stop taking their drugs after a year, often missing doses when they feel better or experience negative effects. “Non-adherence to medication remains a significant barrier in managing blood pressure, especially for those with resistant hypertension, as even missing a few doses can affect long-term control,” says Dr. Guruprasad S.

Examine Potential Drug Interactions Numerous natural or herbal products, antidepressants, and painkillers might increase blood pressure or conflict with your authorized course of therapy. To prevent these unintended interactions, it is crucial to provide your doctor a comprehensive list of all the medications and supplements you use.

Lifestyle Blocks That Are Hidden Blood pressure management may be hampered by things like long-term stress, sleep deprivation, excessive alcohol use, and salt intake. Effective blood pressure management may be achieved by addressing these issues with doable actions and, when necessary, seeking review.

Blood pressure may sometimes stay high even after taking the recommended precautions, such as leading a healthy lifestyle, controlling stress, and taking prescription drugs as directed. “Modern therapies like Renal Denervation (RDN) may be useful when these steps don’t work,” says Dr. Guruprasad S. The hyperactive sympathetic nerves in the renal arteries, which are crucial for controlling blood pressure, are the focus of RDN, a minimally invasive catheter-based technique. For those with resistant hypertension who have tried everything else, RDN provides a long-lasting reduction in blood pressure via working on the renal arteries.

Resistant hypertension indicates that your body need an extra strategy, not that you have failed. Blood pressure regulation is not only feasible but also attainable with a mix of careful habit monitoring, professional advice, and, if necessary, cutting-edge treatments like RDN. The secret is to keep trying, consider all of your alternatives, and take charge of your blood pressure.