HOW TO LIVE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Because high blood pressure is a chronic disease it must be treated forever. Many people have difficulty accepting this fact or its consequences. In talks with my patients I try to help them come to terms with this, to help them understand the nature of their disease and to get them to cooperate with me in fighting it.

• It is important to learn to relax, not live in constant fear about your blood pressure and an occasional higher reading. On the other hand one can't bury one's head in the sand and pretend that there's nothing wrong.
• Re-examine your values and goals. Use the discovery of your hypertension to take stock of yourself. Have you been trying to do too much? Does your job get you down? Do you think that the work you're doing is meaningless? Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands being made on you? Are you trying too hard to make more money?

Having thought about these and similar matters you may find that you have been missing out on a lot of beautiful things that life has to offer. And you may also find that it is foolish to continue chasing after things that may not be all that important after all.

• Practice self-discipline and live sensibly: the fight against high blood pressure does not involve extraordinary measures. All you are asked to do is to take your medication regularly and probably make some changes in your eating and living habits. Some people have a problem about following the rules laid down. Self-control and self-discipline are needed, particularly if you are asked to give up something like a favorite dish or cigarettes. Most doctors realize, often on the basis of personal experience, that what they ask of their patients is not always easy. But that does not relieve them of the responsibility to convince their patients of the need for adherence to their orders.

Routine

Routine is the Key to successful treatment, and self-discipline is the key to routine. Here are some of the things you must do routinely:

• Take medication
• Stick to your diet
• Alternate work with rest and play

Get enough sleep

Exercise

Go for checkups and have your blood pressure taken (or take it yourself)

I know of only few cases where people could not adjust to the change in their lives. The thing you should keep in mind is that you can prevent your high blood pressure from turning into a serious disease.

Making Adjustments

I am often asked by patients what effect their sickness will have on their job or profession, what they can eat, whether they can engage in sports, what the treatment is like, what they are allowed to do on their vacations, whether they can drink alcohol or coffee or tea.

In the following sections I will try to answer these and related questions.

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Cardio & Blood

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• Medical therapy: treatment of angina pectoris
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• Diagnostic investigations: clinical laborotarytests - special investigations - echocardiography & cardiac scintiscan
• Coronary angioplasty’s questions
• Heart disease prevention and cure: diagnosis
  • Coronary angioplasty notes for the family