Hypertension and heart health: What are all these pills?

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a very common health condition which is experienced by approximately 20% of New Zealanders. Despite it being so common, many people are not aware of their hypertension from day-to-day as it rarely causes symptoms. Though hypertension generally goes unnoticed, overtime it increases risk of serious medical conditions such as heart attack, stroke and poor kidney function. Primary hypertension is the most common type of hypertension. This means that the cause of increasing pressure cannot be linked to a specific health condition. A variety of lifestyle factors can contribute to the development of primary hypertension including stress and physical inactivity. Many people are able to manage their blood pressure by implementing purposeful lifestyle changes. A wide range of medication can be used if blood pressure remains high. The choice of medication is always tailored to each individual. For example, some medicines provide additional benefits to patients with diabetes, and others may be particularly useful for people with irregular heartbeats. Patients are commonly prescribed more than one medication in order to achieve the best possible control of their blood pressure and reduce the risk of other heart conditions. Many people feel overwhelmed by this sudden increase in pills – especially when they don’t feel ill at all!

At the school of pharmacy clinic we have a team of clinical pharmacists available to discuss your medication with you. During the free consultation we can check your blood pressure and discuss your estimated five-year cardiovascular risk. We will spend time discussing the pros and cons of a variety of treatments, including medications, for your overall cardiovascular health. Written information can be provided and we are happy to work together with your local GP or other health professional. If you would like to talk about your heart health or medication, get in touch. We would love to hear from you. Visit otago.ac.nz/pharmacy-clinic to make an appointment or phone 03 479 8141.