Truth and Myth

*adapted*

Doctors may sound like broken records as they lecture to various
audiences even in far-flung areas (usually pro bono) but nothing can be
more encouraging to see that at the end of these forums, the lay
participants have a clearer and more accurate picture of what can
potentially maim them. With that, they are in a better position to
prevent hypertension’s serious complications.

Myth 1: High blood pressure is usually associated with symptoms, particularly headache, dizziness, nervousness and anxiety.

Truth: Practically all hypertensive patients will not have any
symptom in the first 10-15 years of being hypertensive. Symptoms may be
associated with damage to the vital organs such as the brain, heart and
kidneys. Symptoms associated with hypertension are also nonspecific and
may be felt with other conditions.

Myth 2: Medications should only be taken whenever one has symptoms attributed to hypertension, or on an as-needed basis only.

Truth: This myth has led to many heart attacks and strokes in previously nonsymptomatic individuals.

Myth 3: Severe elevation of the BP when under stress is normal and requires no treatment.

Truth: Even labile elevation of the BP may require treatment. Once
the BP breaches the limit equal to or more than 140/90 mmHg (especially
if it reaches 180/110 mmHg) and persists at this level for quite
sometime, this should be treated with concern.

Myth 4: Anemic patients have low BP; it’s impossible for them to become hypertensive.

Truth: Unless the anemia is due to acute massive blood loss, many
anemic patients might even be hypertensive because of the increased
heart rate. Anemic patients due to chronic kidney disease might even be
severely hypertensive.

Myth 5: If one has elevated cholesterol, one must also be hypertensive and vice-versa.

Truth: Although hypertension and cholesterol problems may share the
same lifestyle risk factors, and may cluster together with diabetes and
obesity in a condition called metabolic syndrome, they don’t coexist
all the time.

Myth 6: Hypertension becomes only complicated in men but not in women.

Truth: After menopause, when the female reproductive hormones are
already low and women lose their inherent protection from these
hormones, the incidence of heart attacks, strokes and other
cardiovascular complications become higher in women compared to men of
the same age.

Myth 7: Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for colds and weight reduction are safe for hypertensive patients.

Truth: Decongestants, flu pills and some weight-reducing drugs can
trigger sudden BP increase. Some herbal preparations containing ephedra
or ma huang have also been reported to increase the BP. Always check
first with your doctor before taking these drugs or food supplements.